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Updated: May 20, 2026
10:41
VisualEyes: A Modular Software System for Oculomotor Experimentation
Published on: March 25, 2011
(Computer) Vision without Sight
Roberto Manduchi1, James Coughlan
1Department of Computer Engineering, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064.
Communications of the ACM
|July 21, 2012
Summary
Computer vision offers significant potential for individuals with blindness or visual impairments (VI) to interact with their surroundings. This review explores current assistive technologies and future computer vision applications to enhance VI independence.
Area of Science:
- Computer Science
- Assistive Technology
- Human-Computer Interaction
Background:
- Visual impairments (VI) present significant challenges in daily life.
- Computer vision (CV) technology has the potential to bridge the gap between VI individuals and the visual world.
- Understanding the specific needs of the VI population is crucial for developing effective assistive tools.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically assess the needs of the visually impaired population.
- To review existing assistive technologies for VI.
- To identify potential roles for computer vision in enhancing these technologies.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of assistive technologies for VI.
- Analysis of computer vision applications in assistive technology.
- Discussion of user interface design and system usability for VI.
Main Results:
- Computer vision can facilitate numerous assistive technology applications for VI.
- Appropriate user interfaces are key to translating CV output into actionable information.
- System-level characteristics significantly impact the usability of assistive technologies.
Conclusions:
- Computer vision presents a promising avenue for developing advanced assistive technologies for the visually impaired.
- Novel applications of computer vision in assistive technology are emerging.
- Further research is needed to optimize user interfaces and system design for maximum usability and safety.
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