Individuals who are totally blind do not have
access to visual stimuli, thus one must account for other
relationships with nature that provide information to enable
effective locomotion and travel. Typically a primary mobility
aid such as a long, white cane or a guide dog are used, but
these are unable to detect obstacles that are not ground
based including tree branches, windows that open outward
and wall mounted bookcases. A device known as the AUDEO
(audification of ultrasound for the detection of environmental
echoes) has been developed as a means to providing
information about obstacles above waist height to people
with visual impairment. This is expected to be used in
addition to a primary mobility aid, but intended to give the
individual more confidence in travelling in unknown
environments where head high obstacles may exist.
Several usability issues have been previously reported
and it was suggested that the device must be miniaturised to
enable more effective localisation. This paper discusses the
redesign of the earpieces, in accordance with hearing aid
design, to enable higher retention of the spectral cues
provided by the pinna that contribute to sound localisation,
specifically vertical localisation. The AUDEO device was
developed with an earpiece modelled on the ‘in-the-ear’ (ITE)
style hearing aid. This redesign allowed fitting of the
ultrasound receivers deeper within the ear. Vertical
localisation testing of blindfolded sighted individuals found
that the ability to localise in the vertical direction was
increased with the miniaturised version of the device
Individuals who are totally blind do not have
access to visual stimuli, thus one must account for other
relationships with nature that provide information to enable
effective locomotion and travel. Typically a primary mobility
aid such as a long, white cane or a guide dog are used, but
these are unable to detect obstacles that are not ground
based including tree branches, windows that open outward
and wall mounted bookcases. A device known as the AUDEO
(audification of ultrasound for the detection of environmental
echoes) has been developed as a means to providing
information about obstacles above waist height to people
with visual impairment. This is expected to be used in
addition to a primary mobility aid, but intended to give the
individual more confidence in travelling in unknown
environments where head high obstacles may exist.
Several usability issues have been previously reported
and it was suggested that the device must be miniaturised to
enable more effective localisation. This paper discusses the
redesign of the earpieces, in accordance with hearing aid
design, to enable higher retention of the spectral cues
provided by the pinna that contribute to sound localisation,
specifically vertical localisation. The AUDEO device was
developed with an earpiece modelled on the ‘in-the-ear’ (ITE)
style hearing aid. This redesign allowed fitting of the
ultrasound receivers deeper within the ear. Vertical
localisation testing of blindfolded sighted individuals found
that the ability to localise in the vertical direction was
increased with the miniaturised version of the device
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