A new initiative promises help for blind and visually impaired gain more mobility, independence and confidence.
According
to the World Health Organization (WHO) there are a quarter billion people in
the world with vision impairment. Of those, more than 80 million are completely
blind. That is twice the population of Canada.
Developing
a technology that could sense and reconstruct reality for blind people can be
one approach. But, a technology that enables blind and vision impaired to
mediate their perception of their environment and interact with their
surroundings is actually empowering then to be independent from aid devices.
Many blind and partially sighted people of all ages are
unable to lead independent lives because they are not getting the support they
need. The needs of people who lose their sight are many and varied and the
support provided must be personalized if it is to meet individual needs.
Teaching the blind to see with hearing using echolocation would be a way to
make the largest impact, beyond the use of sight. The benefits of acquiring this skill changes the way you interact with
your surroundings on a daily basis. It decreases limitations and opens the door
to new opportunities.
The Journey begins
The Journey begins
Through
this experience, Irene had the opportunity to interact with the visually
impaired. Through working with mothers of blind children and getting to hear
their stories, setbacks and concerns the more Irene wanted to do something to
support and empower them. Guidance of blind and visually impaired people is a
clear unmet need. However, most blind and visually impaired people want to go
out and enjoy independent mobility.
The
environment in which we live is becoming increasingly complex. Even a journey
across a city requires a range of skills including being able to avoid
obstacles on the pavement, to walk in the right direction, play a sport and the
list goes on. These tasks may seem trivial, but for someone with a vision
impairment, this is a challenge and a skill that needs to be learned. SoundSight
enables the development of a hearing talent that compensates for the missing
eyesight.
The
environment in which we live is becoming increasingly complex. Even a journey
across a city requires a range of skills including being able to avoid
obstacles on the pavement, to walk in the right direction, play a sport and the
list goes on. These tasks may seem trivial, but for someone with a vision
impairment, this is a challenge and a skill that needs to be learned. SoundSight
enables the development of a hearing talent that compensates for the missing
eyesight.
See With
Sound
SoundSight
Training was developed to enable the blind to see with sound. Together, with Henrik
Kjeldsen and Dr. Marco Manca the first prototype of an echolocation training
system, was created.
It’s a
virtual reality environment based on audio. The training is completed with
practice in the real world until the student becomes fully independent from the
simulation. Further explanation of how can be found here. SoundSight attracted
the attention of the Italian government and a number of organisations and
advocates that offered its support.
Among them were, Cecilia Camellini, Champion Paralympic Swimmer. When
asked what she thought of SoundSight, “with training and effort athletes can
improve performance.”
Experience the
world more independently
SoundSight
Training is a spinoff of the Let Me See Project, the first from the ScimPulse
Foundation I.M.mortal research program.
It was a 3 year journey that started from a workshop and now partners with
governmental organizations to impulse the idea forward beyond the prototype
stage. Now it has its own heartbeat.
“This software has the potential to enrich the
lives of people who are blind and visually impaired. Everyone can learn this
skill, it’s accessible to everyone and when we design for greater
accessibility, everyone benefits.” says Irene Lanza.
Improving performance, challenging yourself, to overcome limitations, all of this effects humanity’s growth, expansion and well-being. The challenges for the visually impaired are enormous, so immense are the ramifications for those now living without sight, and so exciting is the initiative on the horizon.
Improving performance, challenging yourself, to overcome limitations, all of this effects humanity’s growth, expansion and well-being. The challenges for the visually impaired are enormous, so immense are the ramifications for those now living without sight, and so exciting is the initiative on the horizon.