Editor of O & M Virtual Environments for the Training of People with Visual Impairment

Abstract

The lack of vision increases the complexity of performing tasks that require spatial representation. People with visual impairment face challenges in establishing positions of obstacles in a physical space. It is hard for them to discern their current location or a direction to go. Thus, any information about the ambient characteristics tends to be relevant to the decision-making process of people who are blind. This process involves the creation of a mental representation of the physical space, which is responsible for storing, retrieving, and decoding information about the environment. A mental representation of the space is a key factor for their Orientation and Mobility (O & M) skills. Several studies have investigated the impact of the use of O & M Virtual Environments in the construction of these mental maps. This paper reports the development of an editor for O & M Virtual Environment focusing on generating indoor spaces simulations, called E3 Editor. Differently, from other studies that provide solutions specific to a given space, E3 Editor allows O & M experts to create their virtual indoor maps and applied them in their practical classes with learners with visual impairment, thus favouring the autonomy of these subjects.