Feeling the Way: Haptics for Blind People

A robotic device developed at MIT allows persons with visual impairments to feel their way around a virtual environment, much like they would with using a cane in the real world. This allows blind people to practice moving around in a 3D space that is a replica of somewhere they want to go, so they become familiar with obstacles in the environment.

The haptic device consists of a robotic arm that the blind person grasps as if holding a stylus. The stylus can create the sense of touch and pressure as the person explores the room. (GW)

Feeling the Way | MIT News | Anne Trafton | 23 November 2009

Tagged as: Disability, haptics