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Updated: Jul 15, 2026
09:01
Development of an Audio-based Virtual Gaming Environment to Assist with Navigation Skills in the Blind
Published on: March 27, 2013
AudioMUD: a multiuser virtual environment for blind people
1University of Chile, Santiago, Chile. jsanchez@dcc.uchile.cl
Summary
AudioMUD, a virtual environment using spoken text, enhances interaction for blind users. This novel approach improved motivation and usability through collaborative audio and interface design.
Area of Science:
- Accessibility research
- Human-computer interaction
- Virtual environment design
Background:
- Virtual environments often use simple or 3-D audio for blind users.
- Existing applications may lack advanced collaborative features for accessibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and evaluate AudioMUD, a novel virtual environment for blind users.
- To explore the use of spoken text for environmental description and interaction.
- To incorporate collaborative features for enhanced user engagement.
Main Methods:
- Developed AudioMUD, a networked virtual environment using spoken text.
- Integrated collaborative features for multi-user interaction.
- Conducted usability evaluations with blind learners.
Main Results:
- AudioMUD effectively described environments, navigation, and interactions using spoken text.
- Collaborative features enhanced user engagement.
- Blind learners showed increased motivation and provided valuable feedback for improvement.
Conclusions:
- AudioMUD offers a promising approach to virtual environments for the visually impaired.
- Spoken text and collaborative features are key to improving accessibility and user experience.
- Further refinement of audio and interface design can optimize interaction for blind learners.
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