Interface challenges for the visually impaired

Top end assistive technology devices for the visually impaired, are sophisticated electronic devices that are either hand-held, attached to a Long Cane or worn by the visually impaired user, to warn of obstacles ahead. Rangefinder ultrasonic pulse-echo techniques have readily been applied to many of...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Calder, David
Other Authors: Pier Luigi Emiliani
Format: Book Chapter
Published: IOS Press 2009
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/45638
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author Calder, David
author2 Pier Luigi Emiliani
author_facet Pier Luigi Emiliani
Calder, David
author_sort Calder, David
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Top end assistive technology devices for the visually impaired, are sophisticated electronic devices that are either hand-held, attached to a Long Cane or worn by the visually impaired user, to warn of obstacles ahead. Rangefinder ultrasonic pulse-echo techniques have readily been applied to many of these devices. On the other hand, infrared light transceivers or laser technology is also exploited to locate and warn of obstacles. Applying a rangefinder to a complex user requirement presents many difficulties. The most significant challenges are related to the interface display that conveys navigation/obstacle warning information to the user. From a cognitive perspective, other fundamental sensory channels should not be compromised in any way. This is not always the case with commercially available systems. It could be said of many, that the all important and demanding user interface design has been neglected or forgotten.
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institution Curtin University Malaysia
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publishDate 2009
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-456382022-12-09T07:12:34Z Interface challenges for the visually impaired Calder, David Pier Luigi Emiliani Laura Burzagli Andrea Como Francesco Gabbanini Anna-Liisa Salminen infrared assistive technology portable electronic device ambient sound cues ultrasonic pulse-echo sensory channels Obstacle warning displays long cane laser visually impaired sound interface displays disabled Top end assistive technology devices for the visually impaired, are sophisticated electronic devices that are either hand-held, attached to a Long Cane or worn by the visually impaired user, to warn of obstacles ahead. Rangefinder ultrasonic pulse-echo techniques have readily been applied to many of these devices. On the other hand, infrared light transceivers or laser technology is also exploited to locate and warn of obstacles. Applying a rangefinder to a complex user requirement presents many difficulties. The most significant challenges are related to the interface display that conveys navigation/obstacle warning information to the user. From a cognitive perspective, other fundamental sensory channels should not be compromised in any way. This is not always the case with commercially available systems. It could be said of many, that the all important and demanding user interface design has been neglected or forgotten. 2009 Book Chapter http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/45638 IOS Press restricted
spellingShingle infrared
assistive technology
portable electronic device
ambient sound cues
ultrasonic pulse-echo
sensory channels
Obstacle warning displays
long cane
laser
visually impaired
sound interface displays
disabled
Calder, David
Interface challenges for the visually impaired
title Interface challenges for the visually impaired
title_full Interface challenges for the visually impaired
title_fullStr Interface challenges for the visually impaired
title_full_unstemmed Interface challenges for the visually impaired
title_short Interface challenges for the visually impaired
title_sort interface challenges for the visually impaired
topic infrared
assistive technology
portable electronic device
ambient sound cues
ultrasonic pulse-echo
sensory channels
Obstacle warning displays
long cane
laser
visually impaired
sound interface displays
disabled
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/45638