Stereo image processing procedure for vision rehabilitation

Abstract

This article presents a review on vision-aided systems and proposes an approach for visual rehabilitation using stereo vision technology. The proposed system utilizes stereo vision, image processing methodology, and a sonification procedure to support blind mobilization. The developed system includes wearable computer, stereo cameras as vision sensor, and stereo earphones, all molded in a helmet. The image of the scene in front of the visually handicapped is captured by the vision sensors. The captured images are processed to enhance the important features in the scene in front for mobilization assistance. The image processing is designed as a model of human vision by identifying the obstacles and their depth information. The processed image is mapped onto musical stereo sound for the blind's understanding of the scene in front. The developed method has been tested in the indoor and outdoor environments and the proposed image processing methodology is found to be effective for object identification. Copyright © 2008 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.