Title: A low-cost non-invasive visual aid for severely sight impaired individuals.
Funder: Department of Health (England)

Abstract: Technological Milestone 1. Display optimisation I: High-resolution We have proved-in-principle our designs and thus the first deliverable of the project is to incorporate findings from our pilot study and produce a higher resolution display in an integrated set of glasses frames. Using a combination of high-resolution OLED screens and peripheral LED arrays we expect to provide an appropriate level of visual detail, suitable for both central and peripheral visual deficits (eg. AMD and retinopathy eg. retinitis pigmentosa, respectively). The first design of this is already underway and the first deliverable of a next-generation prototype should be achieved within the first three months of the study. Software Milestone 1. Location and map following We have adopted one the RNIB's key missions, to provide assistive technologies for wayfinding. We will incorporate RNIB's mapping and location technologies into our display. We expect this deliverable to functional by the 6th month of the project. Software Milestone 2. Public Transport Assistance Our discussions with severely sight impaired people revealed that the single biggest unmet need (after object detection) is to be able to read words in the environment in situations such as using public transport. This involves the incorporation of location-based real-time public transport information into our prototype's nascent text to speech module. We have established the framework for this with an external collaborator and this ability should be deliverable by the 12th month of the project. Technological Milestone 2. Portable computing. Central to the success of the project is a light-weight computer. Our first portable prototype uses a small backpack computer weighing only 1 kilogram. We have proved-in-principle that pocket-sized computers are able to run our core software in real-time, and thus a key technical deliverable is the incorporation of an ARM-based Smart-phone style computer as the central processing unit at the 12 month time point. Technological Milestone 3. Display optimisation II: Transparency With the adoption of OLED displays we are in a position to take advantage of new transparent display technologies. This will satisfy one of our original goals of a discrete transparent visual aid that permits the use of remaining sight and allows for inter-personal eye contact. With much of the hardware interchangeable, a transparent OLED screen forms the second technological deliverable at approximately 12-16 months. Patient/Participant trials Milestones. Trial 1. Visual acuity with high-resolution displays – Starting 3rd month Conducted at the Oxford Eye Hospital, we will study the parameters of the visual display, looking at object localisation, reaction time and hand-eye coordination. Deliverables are the appropriateness of the display to different blindness etiologies. Trial 2. Controlled real-world navigation – Starting 6th month We will study a cohort of approximately 40 people and their ability to navigate complex environments using the team and facilities at the PAMELA site at UCL, London. This will give us early data into the ease of use of the portable visual aid in the real-world. Trial 3. Public transport assistance – Starting 12th month Central to the RNIB's key mission, with the team at PAMELA we will mock-up a bus door, steps and driver seat to study how people use our glasses to negotiate everyday complex situations. This will give us critical information to develop our software and provide feedback to the RNIB about what steps public transport operators can take to facilitate a blind person's journey. Trial 4. Take-home feasibility testing – Starting 18th month Following on from successful real-world testing, and the incorporation of a suitable portable computer, we will monitor selected individuals and their home-use of the visual aid. This will prepare us for the commercialisation and marketing of the product.


Research activity codes: 5.3 MEDICAL DEVICES
Health categories: EYE