Abstract
In this chapter, the author mainly discusses two assistive tools for the visually impaired . One of these is a kind of screen reader that we call the “Tactile Jog-dial ”. It converts verbal information such as text into speech signals for which the speech speed can be controlled by blind users, while displaying non-verbal information such as rich text to the tactile sense of a fingertip. This is based on the experimental result that most blind people can recognize spoken language at around three times the speech speed than standard. The other are mobility aid devices that detect environmental information and display it to the auditory sense of the blind using sounds so that the blind can recognize the environment, especially obstacles, surrounding them. These were modeled after the echolocation function of bats and also an ability of obstacle sense that the blind acquire. Moreover, he talks about a method of controlling the balance function by sound localization .
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
A. Koide, C. Asakawa, N. Suzuki, Research on computer aids for the visually disabled. in Proceedings of the IISF/ACM Japan International Symposium: Computers as Our Better Partners, Tokyo pp. 66–69 (1994) [in Japanese]
Kurzweil 1000, Kurzweil Educational Systems, Inc. http://www.kurzweiledu.com/(2016.9.20)
M. Shinohara, Vocal character reader for persons with disabled sight. J. Acoust. Soc. Jpn. 43(5), 336–343 (1987). [in Japanese]
T. Watanabe, S. Okada, T. Ifukube, Development of GUI screen reader for blind persons. J-81-D-II(1), 137–145 (1998)
C. Asakawa, H. Takagi, S. Ino, T. Ifukube, TAJODA: Proposed tactile and jog-dial Interface for the blind. IEICE Trans. Info. Syst. E87-D(6), 1045–1014 (2004)
C. Asakawa, H. Takagi, S. Ino, T. Ifukube, The optimal and maximum listening rates in presenting speech information to the blind. Proc. ICAD 7(1), 105–111 (2005). [in Japanese]
M.P. Beddos, C. Suen, Evaluation and a method of presentation of the sound output from the Lexiphone-A reading machine for the blind. IEEE Trans. BME-18, 85–91 (1971)
K. Ito, Y. Yonezawa, An application of sound localization effect to pattern display. Trans. Inst. Electron. Commun. Eng. C, J51-C-12, 753–760 (1978) [in Japanese]
T. Ifukube, I. Ushioda, C. Yoshimoto, Analyses of multi-sound localization for substitutional cognition for the blind. Technical Report Hearing Research of Journal of the Acoustical Society Japan H-46–3, 1–8 (1977) [in Japanese]
J. Blauert, Spatial Hearing, S. Hirzel Verlag. Japanese edition: Kuhkan Onkyo (Spatial Hearing), (translated by Morimoto M, 1986), (Kajima Institute Publishing Co., Ltd 1973)
H. Wallach, On sound localizaton. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 10, 270–274 (1949)
M.B. Gardner, R.S. Gardner, Problem of localization in the median plane: effect of pinnae cavity occlusion. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 53, 400–408 (1973)
T. Ifukube, C. Yoshimoto, Character recognition by auditory latelarization. Technical Report of Hearing Research in Journal of the Acoustical Society ET78-13, 9–12 (1979) [in Japanese]
T. Sasaki, Mobility aids for blind using ultrasound. J. Acoust. Soc. Jpn. 43(5), 344–348 (1987). [in Japanese]
J.M. Benjamin Jr., A.A. Nazir, An improved laser cane for the blind. in Proceedings of SPIE 0040, Quantitative Imagery in the Biomedical Sciences II, 101 (1974)
T. Sasaki, Electronics for walking support of the visually handicapped. BME, Biomed. Eng. 7(7), 15–20 (1993). [in Japanese]
L. kay, Ultrasonic spectacles for the blind. in Proceeding of International Conference on Sensory Devices for the Blind, St. Dunstans (1966)
T. Ifukube, T. Sasaki, C. Peng, A blind mobility aid modeled after echolocation of bats. IEEE Trans. BME 38(5), 461–465 (1991)
D. Diderot, Letter on the Blind (1749)
M. Supa, M. Cotzin, K.M. Dallenbach, Facial vision: the perception of obstacles by the blind. Am. J. Psychol. 57, 133–187 (1944)
M. Cotzin, K.M. Dallenbach, Facial vision: The role of pitch and loudness in the perception of obstacles by the blind. Am. J. Psychol. 63, 485–515 (1950)
Y. Seki, T. Ifukube, Y. Tanaka, Relation between the reflected sound localization and the obstacle sense of the blind. J. Acoust. Soc. Jpn 50(4), 289–295 (1994)
K. Seki, T. Ifukube, Y. Tanaka, The influence of sound insulation effect on the obstacle sense of the blind. J. Acoust. Soc. Jpn 50(5), 382–385 (1994)
T. Miura, T. Muraoka, T. Ifukube, Comparison of obstacle sense ability between the blind and the sighted: a basic psychophysical study for designs of acoustic assistivedevices. Acoust. Sci. Tech. 31(2), 137–147 (2010)
S. Greenberga, J.T. Marsh, W.S. Brown, J.C. Smith, Neural temporal coding of low pitch. I. Human frequency-following responses to complex tones. Elsevier. Hear. Res. 25(2–3), 91–114 (1987)
T. Ifukube, Artificial reality based on biomedical engineering: as an example case of sensory substitute studies. J. Inst. Telev. Eng. Jpn. 46(6), 718–726 (1992) [in Japanese]
H. Nara, S. Ino, Y. Onda, T. Ifukube, A basic study on postural control using of moving sound image stimulation. Trans. Virtual Reality Soc. Jpn. 5(3), 1013–1018 (2000)
T. Tanaka, S. Kojima, H. Takeda, S. Ino, T. Ifukube, The influence of moving auditory stimuli on standing balance in healthy adults with aging. Ergonomics 44(15), 1403–1412 (2001)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Ifukube, T. (2017). Sound Information Aiding for the Visually Impaired. In: Sound-Based Assistive Technology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47997-2_7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47997-2_7
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-47996-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-47997-2
eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)