Background of development

Coventional method of obstacle perception training in rehabilitation or education for the blind is that, in many case, trainee acquires it by listening real sound variation caused by existence of object (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1 shows the conventional training for obstacle perception. This figure shows a scene that trainee acquires obstacle perception by listening sound variation caused by board in front of face. Next sentence is a title of this figure.
Fig. 1 Conventional training for obstacle perception.

However, this method has problems that the beginners can hardly understand the sound variation, and they spend long time to acquire.

Yoshikazu Seki wondered if scientific, not experiential, training could be performed by taking account of mechanism of obstacle perception.

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Outline of system

Yoshikazu Seki developed device that can reproduce ideal reflected sounds caused by object , using acoustical technologies. This device can reproduce sound variation caused by object more intelligibly than real situation. (Fig. 2)

Fig. 2 shows Obstacle Perception Training System. This system consists of plural loudspeakers and acoustic device. Next sentence is a title of this figure.
Fig. 2 Obstacle Perception Training System.

This system was too huge and expensive to introduce for rehabilitation and education facilities. Yoshikazu Seki also developed simplified version so that they can introduce the system. (Fig. 3)

Fig. 3 shows the simplified version of Training System. This system consists of two loudspeakers and acoustic device. Next sentence is a title of this figure.
Fig. 3 Simplified version of Training System.

This system let the dream of scientific training come true.

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References

  • Yoshikazu SEKI, Systematic Auditory Training of Obstacle Sense for the Visually Impaired by using Acoustical VR System, Human-Computer Interaction (Proceedings of HCI International '99) 2 , 999-1003 (1999).
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