title: Thermal imaging aid for the blind.
abstract: To explore the efficacy of using a far infrared thermal camera with a haptic display to assist blind people in identifying humans, we performed experiments with a prototype device on five low-vision (functionally blind) subjects. Infrared allows for easy detection of human shape due to typically high contrast in temperatures from a person against their surrounding environment. Infrared cameras can be made small and inexpensive with uncooled microbolometer technology. Our study showed a great willingness by the blind subjects to use such a device after a short training session and both successful and unsuccessful operation. Future work will further develop the technology and undertake more expansive testing.
authors.affiliation: Adv. Med. Electron., Maple Grove, MN 55369, USA. dhedin@ame-corp.com
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Hedin
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Seifert
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dagnelie
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Havey
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Knuesel
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Gibson
mesh_terms: D001766:Blindness / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D005556:Form Perception; D006801:Humans; D007259:Infrared Rays; D008954:Models, Biological; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D013817:Thermography / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000502:physiology; D014796:Visual Perception