Virtual Game Helps the Blind Navigate New Environments

Camille Bautista2013-03-27 21:26:27 UTC

Learning to navigate a new home or location can be a challenge for the visually impaired, but a new project may help the process.

Researchers in the Department of Ophthalmology at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and Harvard Medical School developed a virtual game to help the blind find their way through new surroundings using computer generated layouts of public buildings.

Participants can interact with the virtual environment with a keyboard and rather than relying on visual cues, the game uses auditory cues to help orient the player. According to a new report, the team of researchers are looking to incorporate other interfaces and tools such as a Wii remote or joystick.

In the game, players are given a task to find jewels and carry them out of the building, all while avoiding roaming monsters that steal the object and hide them in another location. Over time, the process helps users create a mental map of the area.

Dr. Lotfi Merabet, a contributor to the study, says the game metaphor allows for open discovery and a better understanding of layouts compared to participants simply following directions.

Prior to the new game, researchers also created an Audio Based Environment Simulator and interactive platforms like AudioMetro, where players navigated through Chile's urban subway system.

Image via iStockphoto, abalcazar

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