Blindly Research Articles

Helping Blind People Grasp: Evaluating a Tactile Bracelet for Remotely Guiding Grasping Movements.

The problem of supporting visually impaired and blind people in meaningful interactions with objects is often neglected. To address this issue, we adapted a tactile belt for enhanced spatial navigation into a bracelet worn on the wrist that allows visually impaired people to grasp target objects. Participants' performance in locating and grasping target items when guided using the bracelet, which provides direction commands via vibrotactile signals, was compared to their performance when receiving auditory instructions. While participants were faster with the auditory commands, they also performed well with the bracelet, encouraging future development of this system and similar systems.

The outcomes of corneal sight rehabilitating surgery in Stevens-Johnson syndrome: case series

PurposeTo summarize the outcomes of corneal sight rehabilitating surgery in Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS).MethodsThis is a retrospective analysis of a consecutive case series. Twenty-four eyes of 18 SJS patients were included in this study. The ocular parameters, surgical procedures, postoperative complications, and additional treatments of the cases were reviewed.ResultsA total of 29 corneal sight rehabilitating surgeries, which consists of 9 keratoplasties, 8 Keratolimbal allograft (KLAL) and 12 combined surgeries (keratoplasty and KLAL simultaneously) were performed on the 24 eyes. All patients were treated with glucocorticoid eyedrops and tacrolimus eyedrops for anti-rejection treatment without combining systemic immunosuppression, except two patients who were prescribed prednisone tablets for the management of systemic conditions. The mean follow-up period was 50.6 ± 28.1 months. The optimal visual acuity (VA) (0.74 ± 0.60 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution [logMAR]) and endpoint VA (1.06 ± 0.82 logMAR) were both significantly better than the preoperative VA (1.96 ± 0.43 logMAR) (95% CI, p = 0.000). 57.1% patients (8/14) were no longer in the low vision spectrum, and 88.9% patients (8/9) were no longer blind. The mean epithelialization time was 7.1 ± 7.6 weeks. The success rate was 86.7%. Additional treatments for improving epithelialization included administration of serum eyedrops (n = 10), contact lens (n = 15), amniotic membrane transplantation (n = 6), and tarsorrhaphy (n = 8). Complications included delayed epithelialization (n = 4, over 12 weeks), glaucoma (n = 11), and severe allograft opacity (n = 4). Only one graft rejection was observed.ConclusionsKeratoplasty and KLAL can remarkably enhance VA and improve low vision or even eliminate blindness for ocular complications of SJS. The outcome of the surgeries was correlated with the preoperative ocular situation and choice of operative methods.

Upaya Pustakawan Dalam Meningkatkan Keterpakaian Koleksi Braille Di Dinas Perpustakaan Dan Arsip Provinsi Sumatera Utara

The purpose to be achieved from this study is to find out how efforts are made by librarians to improve the wearability of braille collections in the Library and Archives Office of North Sumatra Province. This research uses descriptive analysis method using qualitative approach. With data collection techniques, namely observation, interviews and documentation. The informant in this study focused on librarians who served as managers of braille collections at the Library and Archives Office of North Sumatra province. The results of this study obtained information that librarians of the North Sumatra Provincial Library and Archives Office have efforts to increase braille collections, namely: 1.) Promoting braille collections, 2.) Cooperation between libraries and disability organizations, 3.) Conducting counseling, 4.) Development and preservation of braille collections. Librarians' efforts in improving the wearability of braille collections are carried out so that braille collections can be put to good use by blind people.

A paradigm for characterizing motion misperception in people with typical vision and low vision

SIGNIFICANCE Motion perception is an essential part of visual function. Understanding how people with low vision perceive motion can therefore inform rehabilitation strategies and assistive technology. Our study introduces the notion of Bayesian biases in motion perception and suggests that some people with low vision are susceptible to these systematic misperceptions. PURPOSE We aimed to develop a paradigm that can efficiently characterize motion percepts in people with low vision and compare their responses with well-known misperceptions made by people with typical vision when targets are hard to see. METHODS We recruited a small cohort of individuals with reduced acuity and contrast sensitivity (n = 5) as well as a comparison cohort with typical vision (n = 5) to complete a psychophysical study. Study participants were asked to judge the motion direction of a tilted rhombus that was either high or low contrast. In a series of trials, the rhombus oscillated vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. Participants indicated the perceived motion direction using a number wheel with 12 possible directions, and statistical tests were used to examine response biases. RESULTS All participants with typical vision showed systematic misperceptions well predicted by a Bayesian inference model. Specifically, their perception of vertical or horizontal motion was biased toward directions orthogonal to the long axis of the rhombus. They had larger biases for hard-to-see (low contrast) stimuli. Two participants with low vision had a similar bias, but with no difference between high- and low-contrast stimuli. The other participants with low vision were unbiased in their percepts or biased in the opposite direction. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that some people with low vision may misperceive motion in a systematic way similar to people with typical vision. However, we observed large individual differences. Future work will aim to uncover reasons for such differences and identify aspects of vision that predict susceptibility.

Health Management Service Models for the Elderly with Visual Impairment: A Scoping Review.

The incidence of visual impairment(VI) in older people is gradually increasing. This review aimed to summarise the evidence on existing health management models and strategies for older adults with VI to improve health-related and vision-related quality of life (QoL) in older people. Based on the framework of the scoping review methodology of Arksey and O'Malley (2005), a comprehensive literature search of relevant literature published between January 2010 and June 2022 in PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CNKI, VIP, Wanfang database, Sinomed and the grey literature. Finally, 31 articles were included. The health management model had a multidisciplinary team low vision rehabilitation model, medical consortium two-way management model, low vision community comprehensive rehabilitation model, medical consortium-family contract service model, screening-referral-follow-up model, and three-level low vision care model. The health management strategy covers nine aspects, the combination of multi-element strategies is feasible, and network information technology has also shown positive results. In the future, under the Internet and hierarchical management model, we should provide demand-based personalized support to rationalize and scientifically achieve hierarchical management and improve resource utilization efficiency and eye health outcomes.

Art, science and inclusion: multisensory Sciart of immunology for blind, low-vision and diverse-needs audiences.

Art is a powerful tool for conveying scientific discovery. Despite the perceived gap between art and science, as highlighted by CP Snow and others, examples of art communicating science can be found in the ancient world, the Renaissance and contemporary data visualization, demonstrating an enduring and historic connection. However, much of science relies on visual elements, excluding those with blindness, low vision and diverse needs, resulting in their low representation in STEM discourse. This paper introduces a novel science and art collaboration in the form of an exhibition program exploring the concepts of Immunology and Biomedicine to blind and vision-impaired audiences, capitalizing on the lived experience of a legally blind artist. Employing multisensory design, art and co-creation methodologies, it transcends traditional vision-based science communication, showcasing the potential for multisensory art to bridge the gap at the intersection of science and inclusion.

Unintentional injuries and falls in populations in Russia. The Ural eye and medical study and the Ural very old study

BackgroundTo explore the prevalence of self-reported unintentional injuries and falls (UIFs) in medium-aged and old populations in Russia and factors associated with them. MethodsTwo population-based studies (Ural Eye and Medical Study (UEMS), Ural Very Old Study (UVOS)) were carried out urban and rural areas in Bashkortostan/Russia. They consisted of 5899 individuals (age: 40+ years) and 1526 participants (age: 85+ years), respectively. We assessed previous falls as part of an interview with standardized questions, conducted in the framework of a series medical and ophthalmological assessments. ResultsIn the UEMS with 5894 individuals (age:59.0 ± 10.7 years), UIF prevalence was 1101/5894 (18.7 %; 95 % confidence interval (CI)CI:17.7,19.7), with 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9, or 10+ UIFs reported by 766 (69.6 %),146 (13.3 %),56 (1.4 %),15 (1.4 %),19 (1.7 %),3 (0.3 %),2 (0.2 %),1 (0.01 %), and 10 (0.9 %) participants, respectively. The UIFs had occurred as outdoor incidents (n = 594; 53.8 %), at home (n = 162; 14.7 %), on the road or traffic accidents (n = 109; 9.9 %), at work (n = 77; 7.0 %), during garden work (n = 24; 2.2 %) or as falls from a higher level (n = 17; 1.5 %) or from house roofs (n = 16; 1.4 %). In 100 (1.7 % of the total study population; 9.1 % of the group with UIFs) participants, low vision was reported as a major cause for the UIF. Higher UIF prevalence was associated (multivariable analysis) with older age (odds ratio (OR):1.01; 95%CI:1.005,1.02;P < 0.001), urban region of habitation (OR:1.59; 95%CI:1.37,1.85;P = 0.001), higher smoking package number (OR:1.01; 95%CI:1.004,1.01;P = 0.001), longer waist circumference (OR:1.01; 95%CI:1.002,1.01;P = 0.008), higher prevalence of a history of arthritis (OR:1.38; 95%CI:1.18,1.62;P < 0.001) and backache (OR:1.73; 95%CI:1.49,2.02;P < 0.001), and higher depression score (OR:1.05; 95%CI:1.03,1.07;P < 0.001). Out of 1525 UVOS participants (age:88.8 ± 2.9 years; range:85–103.1 years), the UIF prevalence was 780/1525 (51.1 %; 95%CI: 48.6, 53.6), with 390 (50.0 %), 116 (14.8 %), 49 (6.3 %), 12 (1.5 %), 8 (1.0 %), 2 (0.3 %), 4 (0.5 %), 1 (0.1 %), and 15 (1.9 %) participants reported about 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,or 10+ UIFs, respectively. The UIFs had occurred as outdoor incidents (n = 386; 25.3 %), at home (n = 214; 14.0 %), on the road or traffic accidents (n = 22; 1.4 %), at work (n = 21; 1.4 %), during garden work (n = 10; 0.7 %) or as falls from a higher level (n = 11; 0.7 %) or from house roofs (n = 1; 0.1 %). A higher UIC prevalence correlated with female sex (OR:1.65; 95%CI:1.30,2.09;P < 0.001) and Russian ethnicity (OR:1.26; 95%CI:1.02,1.56;P = 0.03). ConclusionsUIFs have occurred to a substantial part of the adult and very old population in Russia.

Psychological distress among low-vision patients

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to measure the mental well-being of patients suffering from low vision using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS). Methods: Low-vision patients who visited the low-vision clinic of CL Gupta Eye Institute were studied using the DASS. Patients were excluded if they were &lt;18 years old or could not understand the questionnaire due to an intellectual disability. Sociodemographic characters (such as age, gender, marital status, and education) were recorded before the administration of the study questionnaire. Results: In this study of 60 low-vision patients, high rates of psychological distress were observed, with 85% experiencing depression, 81.7% anxiety, and 75% stress. Demographic variables such as age, gender, marital status, and education did not significantly affect these rates. However, individuals with severe visual impairment (VI) or blindness had significantly higher prevalence rates for depression (P = 0.003), anxiety (P = 0.001), and stress (P = 0.013). Conclusion: This study reveals a high prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among low-vision patients, with the most pronounced impact seen in individuals with severe VI or blindness. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted mental health interventions to improve the well-being of low-vision patients, especially those with severe VI. Tailored support can significantly enhance their overall quality of life and psychological health.

Beast philanthropy: Multifarious, complicated, and even contradictory

AbstractThis article responds to the representations of disability and health care in MrBeast's disability focused philanthropic efforts such as [1000 Deaf People Hear for the First Time] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTOm65IZneg), and [1000 Blind People See For the First Time] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJ2ifmkGGus). These videos follow the structure of a number of MrBeast's other social initiatives such as [Planting 20,000,000 Trees, My Biggest Project Ever!] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPJKxAhLw5I) In quantifying his initiatives in this way MrBeast is able to both reference back to his first breakthrough viral video where he counted to 100,000 over the course of 40 hours and leverage his followers to pick up the challenge and contribute towards the initiative. The YouTube algorithm has responded well to these approaches and as of 2023 Mr Beast is one of the most viewed and highest paid YouTubers. To respond to these disability focused videos under the broader banner of Beast Philanthropy, I also consider the response to these videos and Rhodri Davies' article. Amongst many things, Davies draws attention to the agency or lack thereof of the people receiving Mr Beasts' gifts, asserting they are disempowered as “merely passive actors whose twofold role is to provide a means for him to perform viewer‐pleasing acts of generosity, and then to offer suitably effusive and emotional displays of gratitude in response.” I agree and assert that any non‐consensual sharing of images is a form of disability abuse. As such, we must consider the agency of the people involved in these videos and whether they have given informed consent, and what informed consent means in this context.

Effectiveness of Mp-3 Microperimetric Biofeedback Fixation Training For Low Vision Rehabilitation in Patients Treated With Corticosteroid Ivt in Retinal Vein Occlusions.

The success of fixation training using microperimetric biofeedback (MP-3 MBFT) in the realm of visual rehabilitation for patients with central vision loss caused by macular pathologies is well established. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of visual rehabilitation with microperimetric biofeedback in consolidating the benefits obtained, with the goal of reducing the need for repeated intravitreal injections (IVT). Specifically, the focus is on the eyes of patients with central vision loss treated with slow-release corticosteroid IVT following retinal venous thrombosis (RVO), aiming to enhance and maintain postoperative efficacy. This retrospective review involved the examination of 44 eyes affected by macular edema due to RVO associated with central vision loss. Patients were divided into two groups, with only one undergoing ten sessions of 10-minute visual rehabilitation with a microperimeter (MP-3 MBFT) after IVT over a period of 20 weeks. All the treated patients demonstrated good tolerance to the procedure, with no reported complications. A comparison of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), retinal sensitivity recorded with a microperimeter, and pre-IVT fixation stability revealed statistically significant improvements at the end of the first month after IVT. However, the treatment group continued to exhibit superior and more enduring results at four months post-IV. The synergistic use of MP-3 MBFT rehabilitation after IVT with slow-release corticosteroids has proven particularly effective in improving BCVA and long-term fixation stability. This led to a significant reduction in the number of required IVTs, with no related adverse events. The authors argue that biofeedback utilization represents a noninvasive therapeutic option devoid of contraindications and easy to implement and that it positively contributes to the overall patient experience regarding quality of life in advanced stages of macular diseases.

Implementation of Third Eye for Blind People Using Ultrasonic Vibrator Glove

Implementation of Third Eye for Blind People Using Ultrasonic Vibrator Glove

Smart Glass for Visually Impaired People

Abstract: This review paper aims to underscore the significance of inclusive technology in enhancing the lives of individuals with visual impairments and examine how smart wearable glasses are considered a potential solution for addressing challenges related to object detection. The blind community faces several obstacles in a world where visual information is dominant. The study examines the body of research on smart glasses and emphasizes how object recognition helps to improve spatial awareness. It highlights the revolutionary effect of these gadgets in promoting independence and enhancing accessibility for blind people by summarizing recent research. This succinct assessment seeks to add to the existing methods of inclusive technology by highlighting the exciting possibilities of smart glasses in empowering the blind population.

ACTION VOCALIZER

Individuals primarily communicate with one another. Blind and deaf people use signlanguagetocommunicatewithothers.Signlanguagewascreatedasalanguagetohelp the Deaf communicate with one another. Hearing impairment (HI) according to WHO (2018) data 63,000,000 people with significant auditory loss adult-onset deafness is predicted to affect 7.6% of Indians, whereas childhood-onset deafness affects 2%. As previously said, the number of persons afflicted by hearing impairment and adult-onset deafness rises every year, making Indian sign language a crucial part of initial part of our community. Our study on this issue will assist this demographic in communicating with the broader public and not falling behind in our social growth. The primary goal of this project is to raise awareness of sign language and help deaf and dumb community to communicate with world. This system translates hand gesture into speech and text. Hand gesture is analysed as part of the identification. The technology provides text output,which helps deaf people, and speech output, which helps blind people and humans communicate more effectively Key Words:Action Vocalizer, Tenserflow, Mediapipe, image processing, CNN,Keras.

Recognition of Hijaiyah Letter Patterns Using The Bidirectional Associative Memory Method

Artificial Intelligence has a very broad scope so it can solve very complex problems. Hijaiyah letter pattern recognition using the Bidirectional Associative Memory (BAM) method has the ability to detect maximum results for the blind who are learning to recognize hijaiyah letters in producing information using a bipolar system. The problem in this research is the difficulty for blind people in recognizing hijaiyah letters and patterns, so this research was designed to help blind people learn hijaiyah letters so that they can easily understand the patterns and types of letters using the 3x3 order matrix concept. In the BAM has the advantage of layers that are interconnected between one layer and another layer so that they can be connected from the input layer to the output layer. This research will produce a Hijaiyah letter recognition pattern using the 3x3 Matrix system to design a system for identifying Hijaiyah letter patterns. From the results of the tests that have been carried out, there are 5 Hijaiyah letter patterns, namely ا, ث, ج, ذ and ش which are processed by pattern recognition with a value of 1. [1.1] [1,-13],[-1,1][3,-11 ],[1,-1] [-9,-17],] [-1,1][ [13,9], [-1,1][-13,13]. Of the 5 Hijaiyah letter patterns, only 2 letter patterns were able to be recognized by the system, namely the letters ذ and ش, and 3 patterns were not able to be recognized by the system. Thus it can be concluded that not all patterns using the BAM method are able to recognize patterns precisely and correctly.

An IOT Navigating Device for Blind People

Blindness involves the loss of vision. Mobility and independence have long been challenges for blind and visually impaired people. This project proposes BlinDar, a smart Electronic Travel Aid (ETA) to improve their lives. Equipped with Internet of Things technology, BlinDar aims to help the visually impaired navigate indoor and outdoor spaces freely. This highly efficient, reliable, fast-responding, lightweight, low-power, and cost-effective device uses ultrasonic sensors to detect obstacles and potholes within 2 meters. GPS and an ESP32 Wi-Fi module share the user's location with the cloud. An MQ2 gas sensor detects fires along the path, while an RF transmitter/receiver helps locate a misplaced walking stick. The Arduino Mega2560 microcontroller, with its 54 digital I/O pins, provides easy interfacing between all components. . KeyWords: Blindness, Smart Stick, BlinDar, GPS, ESP8266, Internet of Things, RF Tx/Rx, MQ2.

The characteristics of sexual behavior in blind men in Ganzhou, China: A cross-sectional study.

Visual stimuli play key roles in influencing men sexual behavior. However, few studies have explored the sexual behavior of blind men. To provide more information about blind men for the study of andrology by surveying the characteristics of their current sexual behavior. A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study design was performed. The questionnaire contained questions regarding demographic characteristics of participants, access to sexual knowledge, perception of the sexual partners' beauty, and sexual arousal. Blind men were interviewed face-to-face by the trained investigator. Complete questionnaires were collected from 54 participants, with an average age of 40.57 ± 9.80 years old. Eye diseases were the most frequent cause of blindness. In terms of sexual orientation, all participants were heterosexual. Notably, 90.7% of the participants reported to have had a sexual experience. Among those who had engaged in sexual behavior, 93.6% experienced sexual pleasure and 69.4% had a normal erectile function. Overall, 16.7% of the participants received sex education. The participants obtained sexual knowledge mainly through sounds from mobile phones, peer-to-peer communication, sounds of television and radio. Voice was the most frequent perception of the sexual partners' beauty, followed by figure, skin, and body fragrance. In terms of stimuli of sexual arousal, tactile sensation and auditory sensation in that order were the most frequent stimuli of sexual arousal. Stimuli of sexual arousal in blind men are mainly mediated by sound and touch. Blind men understand their sexual partners' beauty through auditory, tactile, and olfactory sensations. Blind men in Ganzhou lack formal and systematic sex education.

VOICE BASED EMAIL SYSTEM FOR BLIND

The Internet is one of the revolutionary achievements of the last decade of the twentieth century. The increase in internet usage and the unlimited opportunities it offers cause people to fully use internet technology today. With the introduction of the internet into our lives, communication and access to information have become easier. As the business world moves to the digital environment, keeping up with the times becomes more important for everyone. Email is one of the most widely used functions on the Internet . Besides ordinary users, blind people also encounter problems when using the Internet. While technologies such as screen readers and Braille keyboards make it easier to access a range of applications, they still have difficulty accessing much content. The email is important and they must rely on third party help. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to provide voice services to visually impaired people without the need for help or assistance from third parties. Over the past few years, many researchers have worked to create solutions that will allow visually impaired people to use special features of email.This email system can be used by blind people as well as illiterate. The system makes it easier for visually impaired people to send, receive, create and delete emails. . Key Words: Text to speech, Speech to text, Face recognition, Machine learning, Artficial Intelligence, Blind people

A Multi-Modal Foundation Model to Assist People with Blindness and Low Vision in Environmental Interaction.

People with blindness and low vision (pBLV) encounter substantial challenges when it comes to comprehensive scene recognition and precise object identification in unfamiliar environments. Additionally, due to the vision loss, pBLV have difficulty in accessing and identifying potential tripping hazards independently. Previous assistive technologies for the visually impaired often struggle in real-world scenarios due to the need for constant training and lack of robustness, which limits their effectiveness, especially in dynamic and unfamiliar environments, where accurate and efficient perception is crucial. Therefore, we frame our research question in this paper as: How can we assist pBLV in recognizing scenes, identifying objects, and detecting potential tripping hazards in unfamiliar environments, where existing assistive technologies often falter due to their lack of robustness? We hypothesize that by leveraging large pretrained foundation models and prompt engineering, we can create a system that effectively addresses the challenges faced by pBLV in unfamiliar environments. Motivated by the prevalence of large pretrained foundation models, particularly in assistive robotics applications, due to their accurate perception and robust contextual understanding in real-world scenarios induced by extensive pretraining, we present a pioneering approach that leverages foundation models to enhance visual perception for pBLV, offering detailed and comprehensive descriptions of the surrounding environment and providing warnings about potential risks. Specifically, our method begins by leveraging a large-image tagging model (i.e., Recognize Anything Model (RAM)) to identify all common objects present in the captured images. The recognition results and user query are then integrated into a prompt, tailored specifically for pBLV, using prompt engineering. By combining the prompt and input image, a vision-language foundation model (i.e., InstructBLIP) generates detailed and comprehensive descriptions of the environment and identifies potential risks in the environment by analyzing environmental objects and scenic landmarks, relevant to the prompt. We evaluate our approach through experiments conducted on both indoor and outdoor datasets. Our results demonstrate that our method can recognize objects accurately and provide insightful descriptions and analysis of the environment for pBLV.

Disparities in Care for Surgical Patients with Blindness and Low Vision: A Call for Inclusive Wound Care Strategies in the Post-Operative Period.

Disparities in Care for Surgical Patients with Blindness and Low Vision: A Call for Inclusive Wound Care Strategies in the Post-Operative Period.

Learning Scene Representations for Human-assistive Displays Using Self-attention Networks

Video-see-through (VST) augmented reality (AR) is widely used to present novel augmentative visual experiences by processing video frames for viewers. Among VST AR systems, assistive vision displays aim to compensate for low vision or blindness, presenting enhanced visual information to support activities of daily living for the vision impaired/deprived. Despite progress, current assistive displays suffer from a visual information bottleneck, limiting their functional outcomes compared to healthy vision. This motivates the exploration of methods to selectively enhance and augment salient visual information. Traditionally, vision processing pipelines for assistive displays rely on hand-crafted, single-modality filters, lacking adaptability to time-varying and environment-dependent needs. This article proposes the use of Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) and Self-attention (SA) networks as a means to learn vision processing pipelines for assistive displays. SA networks selectively attend to task-relevant features, offering a more parameter—and compute-efficient approach to RL-based task learning. We assess the feasibility of using SA networks in a simulation-trained model to generate relevant representations of real-world states for navigation with prosthetic vision displays. We explore two prosthetic vision applications, vision-to-auditory encoding, and retinal prostheses, using simulated phosphene visualisations. This article introduces SA-px, a general-purpose vision processing pipeline using self-attention networks, and SA-phos, a display-specific formulation targeting low-resolution assistive displays. We present novel scene visualisations derived from SA image patches importance rankings to support mobility with prosthetic vision devices. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first application of self-attention networks to the task of learning vision processing pipelines for prosthetic vision or assistive displays.