Following the Cuckoo Sound: A Responsive Floor to Train Blind Children to Avoid Veering

Abstract

Following the Cuckoo Sound is a responsive floor application designed to train blind children to walk along a straight path through the use of interactive audio. The system, based on computer vision algorithms, is able to estimate the cartesian coordinates of a user as soon as s/he enters the active area. To provide children with an efficient and playful tool which can help them in the task of walking straight, we designed an interactive audio environment based on a cuckoo sound which is altered if the child veers from a central hallway. To obtain preliminary information about the potential of the application, we organized a pilot study involving 6 blind children. Results show an improvement in the stability of the direction in 5 subjects out of 6. Moreover, the great interest among the children for interactive audio suggests that this is a promising investigation field to help wayfinding and orientation.