Wearable Echolocation Aids Using Parametric Sound
The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
Summary
The objective of this study is to study a novel device designed to aid patients with impaired vision to safely navigate their environment. Subjects for this study will be individuals with normal vision, either with or without correction. The subjects will wear a device to simulate impaired vision and will be asked to walk a path with randomly placed obstacles during two trials. One of the trials will consist of the subject wearing the simulator alone. The other trial will consist of the subject wearing the simulator and the study device. The study device is designed to be worn by the study subject and will emit tones to indicate obstacles in the environment as the subject walks on the path with random obstacles. The tones will indicate that there is an obstacle in the individual's path and will increase in intensity as the subject moves closer to the object.Invest
Description
The objective of this project is to study visually impaired individuals' ability to develop echolocation skills using simple, wearable, echolocation devices that will not be cost prohibitive to most Americans and that would allow for greater availability to the visually impaired community. These echolocation devices emit parametric sound, a directional beam of ultrasound waves that interact with sound waves and surrounding objects, through goggles, watches, lanyards or even walking canes. This allows the visually impaired individual to detect sound waves as they reflect off their surroundings…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–100 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * Subject has provided informed consent in a manner approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and is willing and able to comply with the trial procedures. * Adults at least 18 years of age and no older than 100 years of age at the time of consent. * Individuals in good health who can perform daily activities without assistance and can walk independently. * Normal vision (with or without corrective lenses) if there is no uncorrectable visual impairment. Exclusion Criteria: * History of gait problems. * Foot or leg impairments. * Hearing impairment. * Vertigo or oth…
Interventions
- DeviceWearable Echolocation Device
The device features many parametric speakers housed in a plastic case. The parametric speakers emit directional sound waves that return to the source with varying wavelengths depending on the distance of the surrounding objects. The device is designed to be worn by the subject either using a lanyard on the subject's neck, or on the subject's wrist.
Location
- University of Texas Medical BranchGalveston, Texas