Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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What are your thoughts regarding virtual reality Orientation and Mobility Training? (self.Blind)
submitted by KillerLag
Has anyone personally tried any of the systems that were researched/developed/being developed? Did you feel it was accurate?
Marconius 3 points 6y ago
I've never even heard of using virtual reality for orientation and mobility, but it definitely sounds like a horrible idea. Orientation and mobility is something that absolutely requires real world experience and problem-solving… how would using a cane even work in VR? You absolutely need haptic, audial, and tactile feedback from the real world around you to help navigate all kinds of different situations; unless it is the hollow deck from Star Trek, I just can't conceive of how this would be at all useful.
KillerLag [OP] 1 points 6y ago
There have been a few different version... the original systems actually used a keyboard to navigate a virtual enviroment, and researchers found the children were able to recreate the route in a tactile diagram, and create surprisingly accurate spatial maps. The research indicated that they were able to learn the basic layout through the computer alone, although there was controvery as the software was basically a modified version of the game Doom (I believe it was even called AudioDoom).
Here is a paper regarding some of the older systems if you are interested in learning more.
http://www.cnib.ca/en/research/news/gaming/Documents/aerj-02-03-128-137.pdf
The more recent ones, I'm not exactly sure, but there seems to be a few systems. They all involved headphones, and I believe some use projectors for those with low vision. There isn't any cane usage, I believe the system is primarily for learning concepts.
I personally haven't used them before, but part of my organization is very keen to get something set up. Was curious to see how well it works out.
When it gets set up, I'll report back!
Here is a paper regarding some of the older systems if you are interested in learning more.
http://www.cnib.ca/en/research/news/gaming/Documents/aerj-02-03-128-137.pdf
The more recent ones, I'm not exactly sure, but there seems to be a few systems. They all involved headphones, and I believe some use projectors for those with low vision. There isn't any cane usage, I believe the system is primarily for learning concepts.
I personally haven't used them before, but part of my organization is very keen to get something set up. Was curious to see how well it works out.
When it gets set up, I'll report back!
fastfinge 1 points 6y ago
Haven't tried them. I will say, though, that as a kid, playing computer games (audio games and interactive fiction) was helpful in an O&M context. It let me practice skills like localizing sounds, memorizing routes, remembering landmarks, mental mapping, etc, when I was on my own, in a zero risk situation. However, I don't think I could have learned an area in a computer game, and then traveled that area in real life. It was just helpful in practicing the associated skills, when I didn't have anyone else to travel with, and nobody wanted to let a 10-year-old blind kid go wandering around by himself.
KillerLag [OP] 1 points 6y ago
The older systems were based off of video games (I believe the first system was AudioDoom, which was a modified version of the game). And the research did indicate the kids were able to learn the layout surprisingly well.
I think it has potential, but am concerned regarding how much of it can be generalized from simulation into the real world. But will have to see when they get the system set up.
I think it has potential, but am concerned regarding how much of it can be generalized from simulation into the real world. But will have to see when they get the system set up.
fastfinge 2 points 6y ago
Well, again just speaking from my own experiences, having played some of those modified games just as games, I'd say all of the mental skills will generalize extremely well. However, nothing physical will generalize at all. Games helped me practice how to listen to my environment, how to pick good landmarks, how to create mental maps, how to plan routes, some good mental strategies to use for finding my way when I'm lost, and how to keep situational awareness despite distractions. But the technique I use in a game for aligning myself with a sound and following it has absolutely no relation to the technique I'd use to align with and follow a sound in real life. Also, the game couldn't replace having a real instructor teach me those same skills in the real world. But once I'd learned those mental techniques while working with a real life instructor, I was able to generalize them into the game world, and then use the game for practice.
KillerLag [OP] 1 points 6y ago
I believe that is the plan (the virtual systems teach mental techniques, while an actual instructor works on real life stuff). Let's see how it works out when they get it up and running
fastfinge 2 points 6y ago
Keep us updated! The thing that scares me is that because it could work so well for the mental techniques, management might start to cut down on instruction hours. Also, I'm not sure learning the mental techniques would work in a game. Practicing them does, yes. But it could be that learning actually happens better in a real environment.
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