Head-Steerable Device for Basic Vision Function

# %and'()*++, -./01' ,and'( Total or near total blindness results in severe disability in spatial orientation and greatly restricts mobility. The National Eye Institute has identified as a priority the development of new technology for improving access ofblind persons to navigation resources. This application seeks support for the development of a lightweight, wearable vision aid that will convey rudimentary information about light and reflectance to blind users through sound delivered through open ear headphones. Our approach deviates sharply from most previous efforts to develop electronic vision substitution systems in that our device will deliver to the user only very basic optical information, in a sonic format that requires minimal attentional resources. The system, using a spectacle- mounted camera that can be steered with head motion, will convey to the user the locations of high contrast shapes, edges, and lights. We expect that this information will be easily and naturally integrated with existings