Outline of study

The person who has acquired obstacle sense (perception) can perceive existence of wall by listening sound variation caused by existence of wall. Using this nature, we can let the acquired person perceive as if real wall exists by reproducing artificial sound variation. (Fig. 1)

Fig. 1 shows a scene that sound variation caused by existence of wall is reproduced artificially. The acquired person perceive as if real wall exists by reproducing artificial sound variation. Next sentence is a title of this figure.
Fig. 1 Artificial reproduction of sound variation that is caused by existence of wall.

We found that, when the artificially-reproduced wall moves go-and-return slowly, the acquired person sways his/her body synchronously with its movement unconsiously. We named this phenomenon auditory kinesthesis. (Fig. 2)

Fig. 2 shows auditory kinesthesis. This figure shows that, when the artificially-reproduced wall moves go-and-return slowly, the acquired person sways his/her body synchronously with its movement unconsiously. Next sentence is a title of this figure.
Fig. 2 Auditory kinesthesis.

Auditory kinesthesis appears on only acquired person. Because non-acquired person can not perceive existence of wall by sound, and therefore wall movement, either. (Fig. 3)

Fig. 3 shows a graph indicating the non-acquired person does not sway, whereas the acquired person does. Next sentence is a title of this figure.
Fig. 3 Wall movement (upper) and body sway (lower). Left shows non-acquired person, and right shows acquired.

We are now pursuing the possibility to apply auditory kinesthesis to evaluate level of acquisition of obstacle sense (perception).

Collaboration

Funds of Research

This study was supported by
Basic Study on Role of Echolocation in Posture Control by the Blind.,
Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research, 2003,
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Japan, and Japan Society for the Poromotion of Science (JSPS).

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Outcome of study

  • Yoshikazu SEKI, Kiyohide ITO, Objective Evaluation of Obstacle Perception using Spontaneous Body Movements of Blind People Evoked by Movements of Acoustic Virtual Wall, Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies, Article ID 9475983, Volume 2022 (2022).
  • Yoshikazu SEKI, Kiyohide ITO, Objective and Quantitative Evaluation Measure on Ability of Obstacle Sense by using Acoustical VR System and Body Movement Measuring Device in Rehabilitation for the Visually Impaired, Universal Access in HCI (Proceedings of HCI International 2001, Proc. 3), 990-993 (2001).
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