3 research outputs found
A survey of assistive technologies and applications for blind users on mobile platforms: a review and foundation for research
This paper summarizes recent developments in audio and tactile
feedback based assistive technologies targeting the blind
community. Current technology allows applications to be
efficiently distributed and run on mobile and handheld
devices, even in cases where computational requirements are
significant. As a result, electronic travel aids, navigational
assistance modules, text-to-speech applications, as well as
virtual audio displays which combine audio with haptic
channels are becoming integrated into standard mobile devices.
This trend, combined with the appearance of increasingly user-
friendly interfaces and modes of interaction has opened a
variety of new perspectives for the rehabilitation and
training of users with visual impairments. The goal of this
paper is to provide an overview of these developments based on
recent advances in basic research and application development.
Using this overview as a foundation, an agenda is outlined for
future research in mobile interaction design with respect to
users with special needs, as well as ultimately in relation to
sensor-bridging applications in genera