Resolving subjects and measuring observer/subject distances with a thermal tactile imager.
Visually-impaired people have difficulty detecting objects beyond the reach of a cane. We functionally coupled a far-infrared camera to a linear array of tactile elements to create a thermal tactile viewer that enhances environmental awareness. Users may scan such a device across a scene to spatially locate people. We observed in a series of acuity-measuring tasks, at twenty feet of observer/subject separation, observers could resolve two people standing four inches apart (a separation angle of 1 degrees ) and locate the angular position of people within a room with 78% accuracy. Additionally, when employing a technique involving two sweeps from two observation points separated by approximately an arm span, subjects correctly reported observer/subject separation distance with 60% accuracy. These observations suggest the technique of information transfer provided by a thermal tactile viewing device provides the fundamental acuity required for an assistive locating device.
Do
David H
DH
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. doxx0046@umn.edu
Riehle
Timothy H
TH
Solinsky
Ryan
R
Assadi-Lamouki
Pouyan
P
Hillesheim
Christopher T
CT
Vu
An N
AN
Velie
Troy
T
Seifert
Gregory J
GJ
D000465:Algorithms; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004867:Equipment Design; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008959:Models, Neurological; D015588:Observer Variation; D010812:Physical Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011601:Psychophysics / Q000379:methods; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology; D012984:Software; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology*; D014732:Vibration