The Impact of Low Vision Assistive Technology on Mobility in People with Vision Impairment

Project Details

Impaired mobility is one of the most significant challenges that affects people with vision loss and blindness. Low-tech mobility aids such as long canes and guide dogs are still the mainstay of support, but newer technologies such as visual-to-audio substitution, tactile wearables and ‘augmented-reality’ smart glasses are gaining wide-spread interest in the community.

In collaboration with the Department of Physiotherapy at the University of Melbourne (A/Prof Jennifer McGinley, A/Prof Adam Bryant, Dr Wen Wu), the Bionics Institute (Dr Matt Petoe), Swinburne University (Dr Chris McCarthy) and Queensland University of Technology (Prof Sharon Bentley), our multidisciplinary team are developing methods for assessing assistive devices for people with low vision. This includes the use of the world-class Dept. Physiotherapy Mobility and Gait Laboratory, which enables highly sensitive biomotion tracking.

Funding

Melbourne Disability Institute