Virtual environment navigation with look-around mode to explore new real spaces by people who are blind

Lahav, O, Gedalevitz, H, Battersby, S, Brown, D ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1677-7485, Evett, L and Merritt, P, 2017. Virtual environment navigation with look-around mode to explore new real spaces by people who are blind. Disability and Rehabilitation. ISSN 0963-8288

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Abstract

Background. This paper examines the ability of people who are blind to construct a mental map and perform orientation tasks in real space by using Nintendo Wii technologies to explore virtual environments. The participant explores new spaces through haptic and auditory feedback triggered by pointing or walking in the virtual environments and later constructs a mental map, which can be used to navigate in real space. Methods. The study included 10 participants who were congenitally or adventitiously blind, divided into experimental and control groups. The research was implemented by using virtual environments exploration and orientation tasks in real spaces, using both qualitative and quantitative methods in its methodology.
Results. The results show that the mode of exploration afforded to the experimental group is radically new in orientation and mobility training; as a result 60% of the experimental participants constructed mental maps that were based on map model, compared to only 30% of the control group participants.
Conclusion. Using technology that enabled them to explore and to collect spatial information in a way that does not exist in real space influenced the ability of the experimental group to construct a mental map based on the map model.

Item Type:	Journal article
Alternative Title:	Exploring spaces via Wii technology
Publication Title:	Disability and Rehabilitation
Creators:	Lahav, O., Gedalevitz, H., Battersby, S., Brown, D., Evett, L. and Merritt, P.
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Date:	10 February 2017
ISSN:	0963-8288
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1080/09638288.2017.1286391 DOI
Divisions:	Schools > School of Science and Technology
Record created by:	Linda Sullivan
Date Added:	23 Feb 2017 13:56
Last Modified:	10 Feb 2018 03:00
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/30258

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