Development and evaluation of a head-mounted display system based on stereoscopic images and depth algorithms for patients with visual impairment

Abstract

In this work, we developed a wearable system using a commercial stereoscopic head-mounted display. We compared depth first-then contour (df-tc) and contour first-then depth (cf-td) algorithms in terms of images processed per second rate versus the window size and sweep values. Likewise, we performed a comparison of several edge detection methods in the same terms. The developed technical aid was clinically tested. We evaluated the preferred walking speed and the walking speed with and without the devices during three test circuits. For comparative analysis of anxiety levels, we recorded patients’ heart rate data before, during and after the test. The system has proven its potential for enhancing the patients’ mobility and reducing the level of anxiety related to movement activities.