A Spot Reminder System for the Visually Impaired Based on a Smartphone Camera.

The present paper proposes a smartphone-camera-based system to assist visually impaired users in recalling their memories related to important locations, called spots, that they visited. The memories are recorded as voice memos, which can be played back when the users return to the spots. Spot-to-spot correspondence is determined by image matching based on the scale invariant feature transform. The main contribution of the proposed system is to allow visually impaired users to associate arbitrary voice memos with arbitrary spots. The users do not need any special devices or systems except smartphones and do not need to remember the spots where the voice memos were recorded. In addition, the proposed system can identify spots in environments that are inaccessible to the global positioning system. The proposed system has been evaluated by two experiments: image matching tests and a user study. The experimental results suggested the effectiveness of the system to help visually impaired individuals, including blind individuals, recall information about regularly-visited spots.

Application of Ultrasonic Sensors in Road Surface Condition Distinction Methods.

The number of accidents involving elderly individuals has been increasing with the increase of the aging population, posing increasingly serious challenges. Most accidents are caused by reduced judgment and physical abilities, which lead to severe consequences. Therefore, studies on support systems for elderly and visually impaired people to improve the safety and quality of daily life are attracting considerable attention. In this study, a road surface condition distinction method using reflection intensities obtained by an ultrasonic sensor was proposed. The proposed method was applied to movement support systems for elderly and visually impaired individuals to detect dangerous road surfaces and give an alarm. The method did not perform well in previous studies of puddle detection, because the alert provided by the method did not enable users to avoid puddles. This study extended the method proposed by previous studies with respect to puddle detection ability. The findings indicate the effectiveness of the proposed method by considering four road surface conditions. The proposed method could detect puddle conditions. The effectiveness of the proposed method was verified in all four conditions, since users could differentiate between road surface conditions and classify the conditions as either safe or dangerous.

Optical and nonoptical aids for reading and writing in individuals with acquired low vision / Auxílios ópticos e não ópticos na leitura e escrita de pessoas com baixa visão adquirida

Purpose: To evaluate the use of optical and nonoptical aids during reading and writing activities in individuals with acquired low vision. Methods: This study was performed using descriptive and cross-sectional surveys. The data collection instrument was created with structured questions that were developed from an exploratory study and a previous test based on interviews, and it evaluated the following variables: personal characteristics, use of optical and nonoptical aids, and activities that required the use of optical and nonoptical aids. Results: The study population included 30 subjects with acquired low vision and visual acuities of 20/200-20/400. Most subjects reported the use of some optical aids (60.0%). Of these 60.0%, the majority (83.3%) cited spectacles as the most widely used optical aid. The majority (63.3%) of subjects also reported the use of nonoptical aids, the most frequent ones being letter magnification (68.4%), followed by bringing the objects closer to the eyes (57.8%). Subjects often used more than one nonoptical aid. Conclusions: The majority of participants reported the use of optical and nonoptical aids during reading activities, highlighting the use of spectacles, magnifying glasses, and letter magnification; however, even after the use of these aids, we found that the subjects often needed to read the text more than once to understand it. During writing activities, all subjects reported the use of optical aids, while most stated that they did not use nonoptical aids for such activities. .

Objetivo: Avaliar o uso de auxílios ópticos e não ópticos na leitura e na escrita de pessoas com baixa visão adquirida. Métodos: Realizou-se estudo descritivo, tipo transversal. O instrumento de coleta de dados continha questões estruturadas, desenvolvidas em estudo exploratório e teste prévio e foi aplicado por entrevista, onde foram investigadas as seguintes variáveis: características pessoais, uso de auxílios ópticos e não ópticos, atividades para as quais utiliza auxílios ópticos e não ópticos. Resultados: A população foi composta por 30 sujeitos com baixa visão adquirida, com acuidade visual entre 20/200 a 20/400. A maioria dos sujeitos declarou fazer uso de algum tipo de auxílio óptico (60,0%). Desses 60,0%, a maioria (83,3%) citou os óculos como o auxílio óptico mais usado. A maioria (63,3%) dos sujeitos relatou fazer uso de auxílios não ópticos e os mais citados foram a ampliação de letras (68,4%), seguidos da aproximação dos objetos aos olhos (57,8%). Os sujeitos ressaltaram o uso de mais de um auxílio não óptico. Conclusão: A maioria informou utilizar os auxílios ópticos e não ópticos nas atividades de leitura, evidenciando o uso de óculos e da lupa manual, assim como da ampliação de letras, mas mesmo utilizando tais auxílios verificou-se que os sujeitos necessitavam ler o texto mais de uma vez para terem a compreensão do mesmo. Para a realização das atividades de escrita, a totalidade dos sujeitos declarou utilizar os auxílios ópticos, enquanto que a maioria declarou não utilizar auxílios não ópticos nessas atividades. .

Intervenção precoce na comunicação pais-bebê com deficiência visual / Early intervention in parent-baby interaction in a context of visual impairment

A deficiência visual congênita, que pode levar à cegueira, tem sido vista como risco para a interação mãe-bebê e para o desenvolvimento psicológico da criança. O bebê que nasce com uma deficiência visual acentuada tem uma relação diferenciada com o mundo, sendo que outras vias de comunicação e percepção terão de ser ativadas para que ele alcance o desenvolvimento. Os pais são de extrema importância para o desenvolvimento desse bebê, o qual, mais do que nunca, necessita deles para entrar em contato com seu ambiente. Nesse sentido, o objetivo deste artigo é revisar a produção científica na área de intervenção precoce com pais e bebês que apresentam deficiência visual congênita. Para isto, identificam-se controvérsias teóricas acerca do desenvolvimento destes bebês, aspectos da intervenção que favorecem a interação pais-bebê e dificuldades metodológicas dos estudos nesta área.

The congenitally impaired vision that can result in blindness is a risk factor for mother-baby interaction and for the child's psychological development. The visually impaired or blind baby has a different interaction with the world, so alternative ways of communication and perception must be activated to allow for development. Thus, the parents have an important role in their child's development, as the baby needs them more than ever to begin making contact with the outside world. The aim of this article is to review the scientific production in the area of early intervention with blind babies and their parents. To this end, we have identified theoretical discussions concerning the development of blind babies, early intervention issues to help parent-baby interaction and methodological difficulties with these studies.

Evaluation of registered visually disabled individuals in a district of west bengal, India.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the sociodemographic characteristics, degree and cause of visual disability among certified visually disabled individuals in a rural district of West Bengal, India and to identify possible lacunae, if any, in the existing certification system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study by secondary data analysis of medical records of 155 visually disabled individuals and their 310 eyes. Demographical features, diagnosis, percentage of visual disability and work activity status of each individual were analyzed. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty one (84.52%) individuals had 100% disability. The number of males was significantly higher than that of females. Fifty eight (37.42%) individuals were below 21 years of age. Phthisis bulbi was the most common cause followed by microphthalmos. Further, 81.29% patients had the same lesion bilaterally. CONCLUSION: Patients with higher grades of disability have attended certification boards. A large number of disabled individuals comprised children and young adults. Male gender bias demands concern.