A newacoustic archery gamewill allow people living with blindness to experience virtual reality technology for the first time.
It’s part of a small growing number of experimental technological options for the visually impaired.
“With games, it provides a broader sense for playing.
Iryna Khabliuk / EyeEm / Getty Images
For other purposes, it offers an opportunity to view anything with something other than words or pictures.
The system lets users hear virtual environments rather than see them by translating images into sound waves.
The research goal was to understand how people with blindness move and orient themselves in space.
VR technology can accomplish both of these tasks in one instrument, Shedlo said.
“There may be parts of the retina that have some remaining visual functioning.
Projecting enhanced images to these parts of the retina will vastly improve the day-to-day functioning of these patients.”
Aside from VR, other new technologies are in development to help those with vision impairment.
The machine uses a modified pair of glasses with a small camera.
“A VR headset combined with this technology would be a game-changing combination.
This would be the closest thing to artificial eyes.”
