Mobility performance with a pixelized vision system

Vision Res. 1992 Jul;32(7):1367-72. doi: 10.1016/0042-6989(92)90229-c.

Abstract

A visual prosthesis, based on electrical stimulation of the visual cortex, has been suggested as a means for partially restoring functional vision in the blind. The prosthesis would create a pixelized visual sense consisting of punctate spots of light (phosphenes). The present study investigated the feasibility of achieving visually-guided mobility with such a visual sense. Psychophysical experiments were conducted on normally sighted human subjects, who were required to walk through a maze which included a series of obstacles, while their visual input was restricted to information from a pixelized vision simulator. Walking speed and number of body contacts with obstacles and walls were measured as a function of pixel number, pixel spacing, object minification, and field of view. The results indicate that a 25 x 25 array of pixels distributed within the foveal visual area could provide useful visually guided mobility in environments not requiring a high degree of pattern recognition.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Blindness / rehabilitation*
  • Electric Stimulation
  • Humans
  • Locomotion / physiology*
  • Phosphenes / physiology
  • Prostheses and Implants*
  • Vision, Ocular*
  • Visual Cortex / physiology*