Abstract
Background
Technological innovations in the field of low vision services usually involve assistive technologies for users with low vision. However technologies can also be used to enhance the experience of these citizens in other ways. A Danish center for low vision services has developed and tested VR/AR technology for communicating a range of different types of visual impairments. One of their concepts has been that the family play a decisive role for the success of a lighting assessment, and whether the recommendations for alterations or arrangements get implemented or not. On the one hand, the visually impaired citizen can be dependent on their social context to help them purchase and install lamps or light bulbs, and on the other hand, some citizens tend to decline the recommendations because of considerations about their household or their colleagues.
Methods
The role of the VR/AR technology in low vision services is presented and discussed based on observations of the technology employed by two low vision consultants in lighting assessments conducted during the winter season 2018/19, and interviews concerning their experiences from the previous season.
Results
By communicating the impairment to the relatives in a way that they perceive the specific visual conditions in real time and in the specific environment, the otherwise abstract and intangible condition get physical and relational. Compared to the former practice using distorted or deconstructed filters or lenses, the new technology is more flexible and allows the level of impairment to be adjusted, or several conditions to be combined. Not everyone appreciated the technology as more than another gadget, however, the virtual environment did engage relatives and resulted in discussions, acknowledgement and recognition of the obstacles at stake.
Significance
The findings of this study will support the further use of VR/AR technology in low vision rehabilitation.
Technological innovations in the field of low vision services usually involve assistive technologies for users with low vision. However technologies can also be used to enhance the experience of these citizens in other ways. A Danish center for low vision services has developed and tested VR/AR technology for communicating a range of different types of visual impairments. One of their concepts has been that the family play a decisive role for the success of a lighting assessment, and whether the recommendations for alterations or arrangements get implemented or not. On the one hand, the visually impaired citizen can be dependent on their social context to help them purchase and install lamps or light bulbs, and on the other hand, some citizens tend to decline the recommendations because of considerations about their household or their colleagues.
Methods
The role of the VR/AR technology in low vision services is presented and discussed based on observations of the technology employed by two low vision consultants in lighting assessments conducted during the winter season 2018/19, and interviews concerning their experiences from the previous season.
Results
By communicating the impairment to the relatives in a way that they perceive the specific visual conditions in real time and in the specific environment, the otherwise abstract and intangible condition get physical and relational. Compared to the former practice using distorted or deconstructed filters or lenses, the new technology is more flexible and allows the level of impairment to be adjusted, or several conditions to be combined. Not everyone appreciated the technology as more than another gadget, however, the virtual environment did engage relatives and resulted in discussions, acknowledgement and recognition of the obstacles at stake.
Significance
The findings of this study will support the further use of VR/AR technology in low vision rehabilitation.
| Originalsprog | Engelsk |
|---|---|
| Publikationsdato | 12 sep. 2019 |
| Status | Udgivet - 12 sep. 2019 |
| Begivenhed | ESLRR 2019: From innovation to implementation - Shuster building, Manchester University, Manchester, Storbritannien Varighed: 10 sep. 2019 → 12 sep. 2019 https://www.eslrr.org/next-conference |
Konference
| Konference | ESLRR 2019 |
|---|---|
| Lokation | Shuster building, Manchester University |
| Land/Område | Storbritannien |
| By | Manchester |
| Periode | 10/09/2019 → 12/09/2019 |
| Internetadresse |