More info on electronic travel aid research.
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From: Peter Meijer <meijer@NATLAB.RESEARCH.PHILIPS.COM>
To: EASI@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
Date: Tue, 20 May 1997 17:15:38 +0200
Subject: New kind of ETA? Feedback request!
Ref: New kind of ETA? Feedback request!
Dear Listers,
``The vOICe'' is about research on auditory displays,
possibly as a step towards the development of a new
kind of imaging ETA for the blind, which may or may
not prove useful (you decide). The display goes way
beyond the resolution offered by existing sonar or
laser devices, but there remain lots of questions and
uncertainties w.r.t. human learning and perception.
Recently, I've begun adding the first more realistic
soundscape animation examples to (the bottom part of)
my Java-based demonstrator page
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Peter_Meijer/javoice2.htm
[partially mirrored at http://home.pi.net/~meijerpb/javoice2.htm
in case the Compuserve server is down.]
which is meant to be partly fun, e.g., for the casual
web surfer, but also with a serious undertone for those
who are thinking about ETA's. I hope the "fun" part
doesn't irritate too much, as I'm still working on the
creation of a better balance to address several audiences.
Also, the page is currently fully accessible only to
the sighted, although I hope to change that later if
I can find a way around the implementation obstacles.
The demonstrator page attempts to use the options
provided by Java and the Internet to give a more
concrete impression of The vOICe's image-to-sound
mapping. Now I would very much like to receive feedback
from those who have experience in O&M instruction or
have related knowledge.
My question is: wat kinds of (short) image sequences
would you consider best or most convincing in judging
the added value of an ETA? I mean: walking towards a
door, along shops, you name it!
Perhaps you can also envisage non-ETA uses for an
auditory display as implemented with The vOICe?
What about educational options?
Is there something in particular you would like to
see added to this animation page or future web pages?
In other words, I'm trying to bridge the gap between
the many technical issues and the practical consequences,
and would much welcome input from those who can say
more about the practical matters. I wish to create
something that is interesting to you, and will try
to incorporate your feedback in one way or the other.
In short: I would like to learn something that could
help in making progress, which turns out hard in view
of the widespread resistance against ETA's in general,
but perhaps we can meet in the middle.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
Best wishes,
Peter Meijer
Main entry page:
Soundscapes from The vOICe - Seeing with your Ears?
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Peter_Meijer/
------ Forwarded message ends here ------
-- Lloyd Rasmussen
Senior Staff Engineer, Engineering Section
National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
Library of Congress 202-707-0535
(work) lras@loc.gov www.loc.gov/nls/
(home) lras@sprynet.com
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