Naviton—A Prototype Mobility Aid for Auditory Presentation of Three-Dimensional Scenes to the Visually Impaired

Bujacz M, Skulimowski P, Strumillo P. Naviton—A Prototype Mobility Aid for Auditory Presentation of Three-Dimensional Scenes to the Visually Impaired. J Audio Eng Soc. 2012;60(9):696-708. Available from: https://aes.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=16374

@article{Bujacz2012_16374,
  author = {Bujacz, Michal and Skulimowski, Piotr and Strumillo, Pawel},
  title = {{Naviton—A Prototype Mobility Aid for Auditory Presentation of Three-Dimensional Scenes to the Visually Impaired}},
  journal = {Journal of the Audio Engineering Society},
  volume = {60},
  number = {9},
  pages = {696--708},
  year = {2012},
  month = sep,
  publisher = {Audio Engineering Society},
  url = {https://aes.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=16374}
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Naviton—A Prototype Mobility Aid for Auditory Presentation of Three-Dimensional Scenes to the Visually Impaired
AU  - Bujacz, Michal
AU  - Skulimowski, Piotr
AU  - Strumillo, Pawel
T2  - Journal of the Audio Engineering Society
J2  - J. Audio Eng. Soc.
VL  - 60
IS  - 9
SP  - 696
EP  - 708
PY  - 2012
DA  - 2012/09/06
UR  - https://aes.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=16374
PB  - Audio Engineering Society
LA  - en
AB  - To augment the task of navigation and orientation of blind individuals, a new travel aid uses 3D scene sonification to present information about the environment using nonverbal audio. The model is composed of two classes of objects: obstacles and planes. The algorithm uses scene image segmentation, personalized spatial audio, musical tones, and sonar-like sound patterns. Individually measured head-related transfer functions were used to provide users with the illusion of sounds originating from the locations of sonified scene elements. Using a segmented and parametric description overcomes the sensory mismatch between visual and auditory perception. In a pilot study using both blind and sighted volunteers, subjects were able to utilize the prototype for spatial orientation and obstacle avoidance after a few minutes of training, attaining 90% accuracy in estimating the direction and depth of obstacles.
ER  -