Russian Version

A Breakthrough in Artificial Vision!

New concept of artificial vision – Tactile Vision! Newly patented means of coding and transmitting the signal – Artificial Vision Device!

Artificial Vision device

NEWS

In the spring of 2003 (March-may) the research group of «Veresk» Foundation held next tests of the Tactile Substitution for Human Vision Device. During the previous experiments the volunteer has been testing the device during two months, step by step training himself in recognition of the subjects, that allowed us to estimate the potential abilities of the device and determined the basic principals of training methods. The recent tests have been aimed at collecting information about initial sensations of the testers during the primary stage of training.

There have been formed the group of volunteers – five men, a woman and a teenager, each of them took part in three practical training events.

After the meetings with the members of the All-Russian Society of blind and corresponding with the potential users of the device, the priorities of practical usage of the Tactile Substitution for Human Vision have become evident – way finding and orientation concerning the large static objects. That is why (without denying the significance of training on the close space) we limited the possible distance to the object to be recognized by the distance of arm reach. In other words, we were concerned about real speed of recognition of the objects, which had practical meanings – a chair, a desk, a door, a cup, which a tester cannot reach without changing the position of his body.

The testers were suggested to fulfill the following tasks –

* To recognize the objects on the table;

* To determine the position of the window and furniture in the room;

* To move along the marks;

* To recognize the large graphic images.

The principal item of the experiment was theoretical training (about 10 hours) for all participants, when the testers made detailed acquaintance with the general concept of the adaptation of the visual information; physiological specificity of sensor perception, the description of the device and newly developed means of coding and transmitting the signal.

The first practical training with Tactile Substitution for Human Vision Device was wholly and entirely devoted to the process of scanning the object by camera. For this purpose the instructor who was watching the picture transmitted by camera to monitor, made comments to the steps and movements of tester, paying his attention to the falsely and direct movements. However in spite of the fact that the object that should be scanned was placed as usual in front of the tester, the picture was transmitted to the back, the tester didn’t feel any disorientation.

After the certain practical skill of scanning was acheived, all testers – and that was one of the most impressive results of tests – showed the same ability to recognize the objects as contrast light-and-dark volumes without long-term training and without groping about. Thus the cup was “seen” as a small light object on the on the dark sheet, while changing the cup by the spoon the testers “felt” the changing of the shape. The testers could also determine with Tactile substitution for Human Vision the edge of the table, the position of the chair; the window as a source of light, the board of the window-sill. They also distinguished the graphic symbols –letters printed by 72-size font on the sheet of papers A4.

During the tests the range of the problems and directions for the improving of the Tactile Substitution for Human Vision Device have been determined.

First of all, the scale and weight (9kg) of the trial set lets a tester to work with the set not more than 15-60 minutes (in accordance with individual physical grounding). Afterwards one marks the lowering of the level of attention because of growing physical discomfort. The wires connecting the device with PC and monitor limited the mobility of a tester that injures the recognition of the objects at the remote space. The testers faced real difficulties while moving among the furniture and failed to come closer to the remote walls without being distracted by the conductors.

The demands to the camera became evident as well. The preliminary trial set used a simple black-and-white camera with a high-focus glass lens at a 90-degree angle. It takes away superfluous tones and gives more contrastive image, which was at the time not distinct enough. Recent tests use both old black-and-white camera and modern digital one. The last one was transmitting to the tester surplus chiaroscuro characteristics, which were associated by testers as noises, disturbing the process of recognition of the objects.

The testers showed different attitude to the electrical signal applied to a human body in dependence with perceptibility of different places of human skin. For example, the woman spoke about additional signals, associated with echo of the signal. The majority of testers marked that the most perceptive spots were flanks and shovels.

Thus it became evident that there is no use to go on and continue the tests and work out the training methods on the first trial set of Tactile Substitution for Human Vision, because the modern engineering let solve most of the problems and, as a result, to achieve the higher level of recognition and training.

The basic principles of innovation of the new trial device are as follow -

1. The device should be lighter and more compact for the testers comfort; this can be achieved by using microchips and modern constructive materials;

2. In order to solve the problem of attaching the transmitter, the device should have an ability to be placed to any spot of skin (like sticking plaster). In particular that would adjust the electrical signal and adopt the device to the differences between male and female bodies

3. The special program for digital camera should be worked out in accordance with the idea of adaptation of visual information.

4. The construction and program supply representing the precessions movement of human eye should be invented as well.

5. The device should use - up to negative and positive close-up shots - close-up shots distinguishing colors, edges and corners, generalized figures, assigned by the program of recognition of the images.

When the trial sets corresponding to the mentioned demands are manufactured, the Foundation should be able to continue the work on developing the training methods.

The Foundation “Veresk” is planning to manufacture some number of trial sets of the Tactile Substitution for Human Vision and to distribute them in different countries among those groups and societies of blind who are interested in the developing of news adoptive technologies. The groups should hold the testing on their own using the scheme of the test and training instructing, provided by “Veresk” Foundation.

The Foundation turns to the creative and scientific potential of the blind not only because they are the final users of the Device, but mainly because the blind with their highly developed system of sensor perception when the lack of vision compensates by the other informational channels can work out the really effective methodic. When we get the results of testing from different group we can say that the device is ready.

The electrical signal applied to a human body by the device is so low that we can not speak about its direct influence to the organism, but as there is no practice of long termed usage of the device, the groups that are going to take part in testing should design a legal agreement with the Foundation “Veresk” about voluntary participation.

At the present stage we are concerned about getting enough funds for the manufacturing of trial sets, because we are going to distribute them among voluntary testing groups free of charge and then after the testing the sets will stay with groups.

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