Electronic Systems and Interfaces Aiding the Visually Impaired

Visual impairment is one of the most serious sensory disabilities. It deprives a human being of an active professional and social live. EU reports indicate that for every 1000 Europeans citizens 4 are blind or suffer from serious visual impairment and this number is predicted to increase with time due to our ageing society. In spite of numerous, worldwide research efforts focusing on building innovative aids helping the blind no single electronic travel aid (ETA) solution has been widely accepted by the blind community. The aim of the tutorial is to apprise the current state of the art in the field of electronic interfaces aiding the blind in independent travel, navigation and access to information. Functional solutions and outcomes of recent research projects devoted to assistive technologies for the visually impaired will be presented.