This piece came from a Brittish newsletter. Thought some of you might find it interesting.
* CWUAAT'S UP DOC.
A range of futuristic technologies for people with visual impairment
were unveiled last month at 'CWUAAT', the first international
Cambridge Workshop on Universal Access and Assistive Technology.
Research into three-dimensional virtual reality training environments
for
the visually impaired was presented by Dimitrios Tzovaras of the
Informatics and Telematics Institute in Greece. The work, which forms
part of an EU project entitled ENORASI, used a 'CyberGrasp' haptic
glove to create the impression of solid objects which could be felt,
picked up, held and examined.
Trials undertaken by 26 blind volunteers included the identification of
three-dimensional virtual geometric objects on a table-top which could
be used in mathematics teaching; the physical representation of moving
graphs such as sinusoidal waves; virtual maps with tactile features; a
selection of virtual spheres of different simulated materials that
could be
lifted and squeezed; and some entertainment games including target
shooting.
Another highly practical trial involved the simulation of a cane that
could
be used to tap virtual objects to simulate situations such as crossing
the
road at traffic lights. The users felt sensations of holding a cane and
also
realistic vibrations and sounds as virtual objects were tapped. For
more
information see:
http://www.iti.gr/db.php/en/projects/ENORASI.html
Other technologies on display included a system to allow blind or
visually impaired people to create and read graphs and charts such as
bar
graphs or pie charts developed by Professor Stephen Brewster of the
University of Glasgow. Using a 'haptic mouse' which creates a physical
sensation when a user moves over a line on the chart, Brewster said the
system might for the first time allow blind people to gain a proper
overview of a diagram or chart (see http://www.multivis.org).
Joanne Coy of the privatised postal service Consignia, which sponsored
the workshop, told delegates that new Disability Discrimination Act and
an ageing population meant that large employers had to take access
technologies seriously if they are to recruit from the best available
talent
and retain their existing staff. arger Because of their scale and
profile,
organizations like Consignia would be expected to lead in this field,
she
said.
CWUAAT is scheduled to be reconvened every two years. Its web site is
at:
http://rehab-www.eng.cam.ac.uk/cwuaat
And to find out how to buy a copy of the proceedings email Simeon
Keates at Cambridge University on lsk12@eng.cam.ac.uk
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