A Virtual Haptic Platform to Assist Seeing Impaired Learning: Proof of Concept Abstract

[摘要] This project is designed to remove the boundaries and enhance theability of teachers to engage visually impaired learners by providing tools to help visualize virtual spatial concepts via the use of touch. Studies indicate that theability to touch a virtual representation of a digital object affords a similareffect on blind people as a diagram on people with sight. Here we present aproof of concept and an inexpensive haptic platform in the form of a tactiledisplay using vibration motors for tactile feedback to provide users the abilityto touch virtual objects. The platform is cost effective, simple to usevia a browser-based interface, and provides the ability to load textures and heightmaps, as well as meshes to convey many types of spatial concepts. Our proof ofconcept device provides a means to enable the use of existing resources toprovide enriched experiences for the blind and visually impaired.

[学科分类] 眼科学

[关键词] Hapticlearning;virtual learning;blind;visually impaired;proof of concept