Affiliations: [a] Department of Information Physics and Computing, Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan | [b] Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers, Paris, France | [c] Laboratory Language and Cognition, Centro de Ciências do Homem, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Darcy Ribeiro (UENF), Rio de Janeiro, Brasil | [d] Master Language and Cognition, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Darcy Ribeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil | [e] Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Alvaro Cassinelli, Department of Information Physics and Computing, Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan. Tel.: +81 3 5841 8702; Fax: +81 3 5841 6952; E-mail: Alvaro_Cassinelli@ipc.i.u-tokyo.ac.jp; cassinelli.alvaro@gmail.com.
Abstract: Background:Individuals lacking or having impaired vision face serious difficulties during autonomous locomotion. Sensory substitution devices can contribute to alleviate such difficulties, significantly (and measurably) reducing anxiety. Objective:The present paper evaluates a device – the Tactile Radar (TR) – that can detect obstacles at a certain distance from the user and generate meaningful and unobtrusive tactile stimuli. Methods:We evaluate the impact of its use on the degree of anxiety that autonomous locomotion usually trigger on people who are blind. Results:Decreased anxiety as well as increased sense of safety and independence was observed on the tested subjects, through subjective (semi-structured interviews) and objective assessments (STAI inventories). Conclusions:This device seems promising. More experimentation is needed to evaluate the capacity of the TR to enhance indoor localization and body placement with respect to walls and obstacles, as well as evaluation of the device in real life situations including outdoors. Last but not least, we need to consider ways of moving from a prototyping to a real production phase – of an affordable yet reliable device that can reach as soon as possible the interested population.
Keywords: Anxiety, feeling of security and independence, visual deprivation, sensory substitution device, autonomous locomotion
