Work

Devices for visually impaired people: High technological devices with low user acceptance and no adaptability for children

Year: 2016

Type: review

Abstract: Considering that cortical plasticity is maximal in the child, why are the majority of technological devices available for visually impaired users meant for adults and not for children? Moreover, despite high technological advancements in recent years, why is there still no full user acceptance of existing sensory substitution devices? The goal of this review is to create a link between neuroscientists and engineers by opening a discussion about the direction that the development of technological devices for visually impaired people is taking. Firstly, we review works on spatial and social skills in children with visual impairments, showing that lack of vision is associated with other sensory and motor delays. Secondly, we present some of the technological solutions developed to date for visually impaired people. Doing this, we highlight the core features of these systems and discuss their limits. We also discuss the possible reasons behind the low adaptability in children.

Source: Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews

DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.06.043

Authors: Monica Gori, Giulia Cappagli, Alessia Tonelli, Gabriel Baud-Bovy, Sara Finocchietti

Institution: Italian Institute of Technology

Language: English

Topic: Tactile and Sensory Interactions

Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,860