Weather of Arabia - Smart glasses equipped with audio touch technology greatly enhance the ability of blind or visually impaired individuals to recognize and access objects.
Australian researchers have pioneered an advanced technology known as “acoustic touch,” which helps individuals “see” the world using sound. This pioneering technology has the potential to transform the lives of people who are blind or visually impaired, according to a report published by Neuroscience News.
According to the World Health Organization, there are about 39 million people around the world who suffer from blindness, and there are another 246 million people who suffer from visual impairment of varying degrees that affects their ability to participate in their daily life activities.
The next generation of smart glasses, which translate visual information into distinctive audio icons, was developed by researchers from the University of Technology Sydney in collaboration with the University of Sydney, as well as working with ARIA Research , a Sydney-based startup.
Professor Chen Ting Lin, a leading brain-computer interface researcher from the University of Technology Sydney, said:
“Smart glasses are typically used to translate sensory and visual information into audio representations, enabling individuals to understand what they see by converting it into computer-synthesized speech.”
He also explained that:
“Voice Touch technology embodies objects and creates unique sound codes when they come into the device's field of view. For example, the sound of leaves whispering can indicate the presence of a plant, while a ringing sound can be associated with a mobile phone.”
A recent study was published that sheds light on voice touch technology and its benefits in helping blind people. This study was conducted by a research team led by Dr. Hui Zhu from the University of Technology in Sydney. They tested a wearable device equipped with voice touch technology on a group of 14 participants , and this group included seven individuals. They were blinded or had poor vision, in addition to seven blindfolded, sighted individuals who served as a control group.
It was found that this innovative device contributed significantly to enhancing the ability of blind or visually impaired individuals to recognize and access objects, without the need for great mental effort. Dr. Chu pointed out the importance of the auditory feedback provided by the device, stressing that this technology represents a step forward. A mission towards enhancing the senses and improving the lives of visually impaired individuals.
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