InfoAnda - Virtual reality used for blind to map real world

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Pakistani stocks surge 5.5 pct on judge decision | 16 March 2009
Australian new PM reassures Obama on Afghanistan | 25 June 2010
CORRECTED | 4 October 2010

Ten wounded in Iraq prison riot | | 14 March 2011

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Virtual reality used for blind to map real world | Technology |

My Profile Top News Reuters top ten news stories delivered to your inbox each day. Subscribe You are here: Home > News > Technology > Article Home Business & Finance News U.S. Politics International Technology Internet Entertainment Sports Lifestyle Oddly Enough Health Science Special Coverage Video Pictures Your View The Great Debate Blogs Weather Reader Feedback Do More With Reuters RSS Widgets Mobile Podcasts Newsletters Your View Make Reuters My Homepage Partner Services CareerBuilder Affiliate Network Professional Products Support (Customer Zone) Reuters Media Financial Products About Thomson Reuters Virtual reality used for blind to map real world Thu Sep 17, 2009 10:36am EDT Email | Print | Share | Reprints | Single Page [-] Text [+] By John Gaudiosi RALEIGH, North Carolina (Reuters) - Virtual reality can let video game players escape from the real world but a group of researchers are using virtual reality to help the blind join the real world more, by navigating real places. Researchers at the University of Chile and Harvard Medical School are using three audio-based PC games that allow players to navigate a labyrinth, a subway system and real-world buildings based on audio cues. "Essentially the games work by interpreting information generated by spectral sounds like footsteps and door knocks," said Lotfi B. Merabet, PhD of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School and co-author of "AER Journal: Research and Practice in Visual Impairment and Blindness." "The player uses a keyboard to move and interact with the virtual world. By sequentially interacting within the virtual 3-D environment, the user learns to build a spatial cognitive map of their surroundings." The goal was to develop audio-based gaming to help blind children develop spatial, cognitive and social skills. "(We've) concentrated on developing the gaming software as a rehabilitation tool to allow blind users to survey unfamiliar buildings before actually navigating through them in real life, as well as conducting brain imaging studies to uncover how the brain of a blind individual accomplishes this task," said Merabet. According to the World Health Organization, there are about 314 million visually impaired people worldwide and about 45 million of them are blind. There are over 50 audio-based games for the blind currently available, according to Kelly Sapergia, who reviews games created by and for blind people for the American Council of the Blind's "Main Menu" radio program. She said these vary from pinball to "Space Invaders"-style games to "GMA Tank Commander," which is a World War II game that lets you drive a tank and shoot various weapons at enemies. Blind gamers also have access to the classic text-based games that preceded the video game explosion, including titles like "Zork" from Infocom. Sapergia said blind gamers can plug in an audio synthesizer and have the text-based adventure read to them. There are even games that offer a level playing field regardless of sight. Since 2001, AllinPlay has offered subscription-based online community games like "Texas Hold-em," "Crazy Eights," and "The Anagram Game" that were designed for both blind and sighted people. Previous research efforts have also become games for the blind. In 2005, the Utrecht School of the Arts in the Netherlands developer a racing game called "Drive" in cooperation with the Bartimus Institute for the Blind. The game lets players drive a shuttle along a fixed track with a co-pilot named Bob. But compared to the millions of copies of PC and console games sold every week, the market for games for the blind is tiny. "There's a community of blind gamers, but I think the main drawback has been that the big game publishers like Nintendo and Sony haven't created games that are more accessible for blind people," said Sapergia. Merabet and fellow researcher Jaime Sanchez from the Department of Computer Science at the University of Chile do not view audio-based computer games as a replacement for current rehabilitative techniques but they hope this research will provide a complementary technique. (Editing by Belinda Goldsmith) © Thomson Reuters 2009 All rights reserved Share: Del.icio.us Digg Mixx Yahoo! Facebook LinkedIn Next Article: Italy antitrust chief warns Google of heavy fines Also On Reuters Former Cold War foes team up to probe warming seas Skype founders sue eBay, investors Turk crowned world's tallest man at over 8 feet 1 inch More Technology News Skype founders sue eBay, investors Twitter funding would value it at $1 billion: report Italy antitrust chief warns Google of heavy fines Ebay petitions EU to stop blocks on Internet trade Behind the snags, drama, hype: Meet the Boeing 787 More Technology News... Editor's Choice Slideshow A selection of our best photos from the past 24 hours. Slideshow Most Popular on Reuters Articles Video U.S. abandons missile shield in Europe UPDATE 4-Skype founders sue eBay, investors Leno show loses 7 million viewers on second night | Video Japan scientists create 3-D images you can touch U.S. to shelve Europe missile shield plans: report Flu experts gear up for pandemic of vaccine worry To bomb, or to bunker? Israel's Iran choices narrow Dan Brown novel breaks one-day sales records Swine flu death rate similar to seasonal flu: expert Behind the snags, drama, hype: Meet the Boeing 787 Most Popular Articles RSS Feed Video No public option in Senate bill Pitt: Stopping the next crisis Dollar punished Talk of the Town Bomb in Afghan capital Abuse charges shock Australia Obama: No pending Afghan decision Famous vent their fury Battle over Afghan policy Airline staff held on drug charges Most Popular Videos RSS Feed Reuters.com: Help and Contact Us | Advertise With Us | Mobile | Newsletters | RSS | Labs | Journalism Handbook | Archive | Site Index | Video Index Thomson Reuters Corporate: Copyright | Disclaimer | Privacy | Professional Products | Professional Products Support | About Thomson Reuters | Careers International Editions: Africa | Arabic | Argentina | Brazil | Canada | China | France | Germany | India | Italy | Japan | Latin America | Mexico | Russia | Spain | United Kingdom | United States Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests. NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.

Other News on Thursday, 17 September 2009
Iran opposition leaders to attend anti-Israel rally
Barroso wins second term as EU commission chief
Spain's Zara to start selling its clothes over the Internet
Ozone hole smaller in 2009 than 2008: WMO
Some 750,000 paedophiles prowling Internet: UN
Israel rejects independent inquiry into Gaza war
Algerian appeals sentence over Paris metro bombs
British unemployment hits 14-year high
Electric cars star at Frankfurt fair
IAEA's poor nations split on Iran's attack ban bid | International |
Iran will not tolerate threats during talks: aide
Iraqi Green Zone attack suspects released
U.S. keeps Venezuela, Bolivia atop narcotics list | International |
China's Lenovo unveils homegrown smartphone
China has 63 mln Internet businesspeople: reports
Iraqi official: Talks with Syria over attacks fail
Iraq leader seeks investment as rockets fall | International |
Gunmen kill 10 patients at Mexico rehab clinic | International |
Iran replaces reformist cleric for annual sermon
Somali rebels call for foreign reinforcements | International |
Europe's farmers dump milk to protest low prices | International |
Don't leave poor behind, World Bank chief tells G20 | International |
Iran says ready for any possible gasoline sanction
Emmy Countdown: Workers busy at Nokia Theatre
No sign of settlement deal after U.S.-Israel talks
Behind the snags, drama, hype: Meet the Boeing 787 | Technology |
EU in informal talks on Microsoft, Yahoo deal: source | Technology |
Calif. courts shuttered Wednesday to save money
Kansas senators drop roadblock of Obama nominees
US ambassador walks streets of Kabul
Comcast plans to bring TV shows to your phone | Technology |
Officials assure residents about jail contract
Rights group: Free Myanmar prisoners before polls
Chinese envoy holds talks in North Korea
NC crash kills ex-White House photog Kightlinger
Military van shot near US gold mine in Indonesia
Ohio woman arrested for spanking stranger's child
SKorea: Any US-NKorea talks must deal with nukes
Police foil 'terror' attacks in China's Xinjiang
Court sets execution date for DC sniper mastermind
Japan's new leader vows economic, diplomacy shift
Funeral held for former Blagojevich fundraiser
Colo. man denies link to terror plot after NY trip
Hatoyama elected Japan's leader, names Cabinet
Senator's plan joins heated U.S. healthcare debate
FBI Director says no imminent danger from NYC case
Sweden promised accessed to suspects in Pakistan
Australian cat strays 2,400 miles, returns home
China tire row need not spark trade war: US official
Taiwan Mobile buys cable TV firm in billion-dollar deal
Air France holds talks with Japan Airlines: source
Nissan launches 2 new cars in India
Rain swears off "scary, horrible" dieting
China state companies invest $35.7B abroad in 2008
Japan chip makers agree on deal, cash infusion
Beyonce sued by Abercrombie & Fitch over fragrance | Entertainment |
Patrick Swayze made peace with death, memoir shows | Entertainment |
Japan chip makers agree on merger, cash infusion
Pakistani stocks end on highest closing this year
Leno show loses 7 million viewers on second night | Entertainment |
Beyonce sued by Abercrombie & Fitch over fragrance
TV's `Newlywed Game' features first gay couple
Al Jazeera breaks Arab TV taboo by showing Israeli team
Ben Hur spectacular premieres in London
German writer Enzensberger wins Danish prize
Emmy Countdown: Workers busy at Nokia Theatre
For director Jason Reitman, risky films pay off
President's opinion of Kanye West sparks debate
Danish daily prints soldier's book despite protest
EU in informal talks on Microsoft, Yahoo deal: source
Obama: No decision yet on Afghanistan troop count
Two EU cars attacked with Molotov cocktails in Kosovo
Murdoch's Sky Italia sues Berlusconi's Mediaset
Nanoparticles could pose threat to humans: scientists
Gazans welcome UN war crimes report
Bright start for Japan's new PM as economy improves | International |
Comcast plans to bring TV shows to your phone
Biden confident in stable Iraq amid rocket attacks
Iraq leader seeks investment as rockets fall
Israel defense chief: Iran not an existential threat | International |
Iraqis venture out near Ramadan end, violence drops
PC sales down 2.4 pct in second quarter: IDC
Australian charged with raping daughter for 30 years | International |
Google acquires Web security firm reCAPTCHA
Behind the snags, drama, hype: Meet the Boeing 787
Teens cleared of plotting UK Columbine massacre | International |
Indonesia police believe key militant dead: sources | International |
Honduras candidates back negotiated solution to coup | International |
China's cancer villages bear witness to economic boom | International |
FBI question Colorado man linked to NY raid
US envoy confident of closing Guantanamo on time
More bones found at US kidnap suspect's home: police
Transcript: Copilot pleaded for chopper to fly
Man accused of trading dad's car for $50 in crack
Pa. man gets 8 years for sex with Russian orphans
Australia intercepts boat carrying 48 asylum-seekers
Indonesia police raid Java house; 3 dead
US military deaths in Afghanistan region at 757
McHugh confirmed as Army secretary
Rockets vie in simulated lunar landing contest
Canada says won't review Nortel-Ericsson deal | Technology |
US-Japan ties to 'stand test' of change: Clinton
A look at who's in, out for Kennedy seat
Clinton pledges to boost Bangladesh trade
Police says shots fired during raid in Indonesia
China invests $750 mln in Mauritius
Indonesia police attack suspected militant hideout
China could undermine US military power in Pacific: Gates
Japanese PM pledges big change
Top UN official in Sri Lanka to push for rights probe
Bank of Japan maintains stimulative policy
WRAPUP 1-Tension grows over South Korea rate policy
Lindsay Lohan's brief: make Ungaro 'cooler'
S.Korea state think-tank calls for liquidity control
Indian firm eyes European electric car market
S.Korea needs macro-, micro-policy for property -official
S.Korea economy faces high uncertainty -fin min
Taiwan dollar at fresh 3-mth high on econ hopes
Seoul shares hit near-15-mth high on foreign buying
S.Korea T-bonds fall on retail sales data
S.Korea dept store sales jump in Aug
Whip It remarkable directing debut for Barrymore | Entertainment |
Burt Reynolds hopes his fight with drugs helps others | Entertainment |
Michael Caine on warpath in "Harry Brown"
Mary Travers of "Peter, Paul and Mary" dies, age 72
Beyonce sued by Abercrombie & Fitch over fragrance | Entertainment |
Gene Simmons promises high-impact Boom from Kiss | Entertainment |
China's Ai Weiwei: artist with politics on mind
Teen spirit elevates Youth in Revolt | Entertainment |
Website offers emails from beyond the grave
Blast during counter-terror operation in Indonesia
Fashionistas ask: Crisis? what crisis?
Michael Caine on warpath in Harry Brown | Entertainment |
Spike Lee, Robert De Niro in New York frame of mind | Entertainment |
Mary Travers of Peter, Paul and Mary dead at 72
Sony Pictures takes side of Defendor | Entertainment |
"Whip It" remarkable directing debut for Barrymore
Teen spirit elevates "Youth in Revolt"
Mary Travers of Peter, Paul and Mary dies, age 72 | Entertainment |
Paul McCartney voted Americans' favorite Beatle | Entertainment |
Mall magnate, Pacers co-owner Mel Simon dies at 82
Suicide attack kills 6 Italian troops, 10 Afghans
Somali rebels issue demands to free French hostage
Karzai defends Afghan vote, blast hits Italian troops | International |
Taiwan lab develops panda robot
Russian airline Aeroflot plans 2,000 job cuts
U.S. military shuts largest detainee camp in Iraq | International |
Implanted tooth helps blind US woman recover sight
China anniversary puts security jitters on show | International |
Six Italian soldiers 'killed in Kabul attack'
Karzai defends Afghan vote
3 bodies in Kabul blast on NATO convoy: AFP reporter
Huge blast heard in Afghan capital: witnesses
Iran Guards warn against protests during anti-Israel rallies | International |
Biden presses Iraqis to agree on oil | International |
Goldstone rejects bias charges over UN Gaza report
Iran says venue for nuclear talks not fixed
Air raid on refugees kills 87 in Yemen: sources | International |
Afghan paralysis over fraud-hit election
Suicide car bombers hit main AU base in Somalia | International |
Skype founders sue eBay, investors | Technology |
Twitter funding would value it at $1 billion: report | Technology |
The Nation's weather
Lab technician arrested in slaying of Yale student
Virtual reality used for blind to map real world | Technology |
Italy antitrust chief warns Google of heavy fines | Technology |
Ark. football player, 16, gets his 'last game'
Ebay petitions EU to stop blocks on Internet trade | Technology |
Fed judge expected to rule on G-20 protest suit
Terror mastermind Noordin 'dead in Indonesia raid'
White House holds off on decisions on Afghanistan
A look at health care plans in Congress
Panel begins inquiry into financial meltdown
Deep divisions over long-awaited health care plan
House bill would kill subsidized student loans
New health proposal is industry's favorite so far
Japan's new PM to tackle record jobless rate
Japan's new govt to review airline turnaround plan
Japan's new finance head faces tough economic road
SKorean firm wins bln dlr Saudi power plant deal
Emmy Awards faces conundrum as best watched by less | Entertainment |
Malaysian manufacturing down 22.4 pct in July
S.Korea fin min says not time to raise interest rate
French ship builder eyes Asia naval defense market
Terror mastermind Noordin dead: Indonesia police
Despite stroke, humorist Keillor not slowing down
S.Korea fin min says won's rise natural on funds
Press group urges Rudd to resist Indonesia "blackmail"
"I'm a born stage animal": opera star Waltraud Meier
Four suspected militants killed in Indonesian raid
The Police staying off the beat: drummer
At Gaza's only spa, the well-heeled find relief
Boy's films confront Down's syndrome stigma in Serbia
The manga that poured French wine into Asia
Artists take over plush London mansion
Luxury auto sector defies industry crash
Gene Simmons promises high-impact "Boom" from Kiss
Biography reveals Queen Mum's private letters
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph	VPN on MacOSX	BlogMeter 1.01