If you would like to write for this, or any other Emerald publication, then please use our Emerald for Authors service information about how to choose which publication to write for and submission guidelines are available for all. Please visit www.emeraldinsight.com/authors for more information. Emerald is a global publisher linking research and practice to the benefit of society. The company manages a portfolio of more than 290 journals and over 2,350 books and book series volumes, as well as providing an extensive range of online products and additional customer resources and services. Emerald is both COUNTER 4 and TRANSFER compliant. The organization is a partner of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and also works with Portico and the LOCKSS initiative for digital archive preservation. *Related content and download information correct at time of download.  Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how commercially-off-the-shelf sensors and stimulators, such as infrared rangers and vibrators, can be retrofitted as a useful assistive technology in real and virtual environments. Design/methodology/approach -The paper describes how a wearable range-vibrotactile device is designed and tested in the real-world setting, as well as thorough evaluations in a virtual environment for complicated navigation tasks and neuroscience studies. Findings -In the real-world setting, a person with normal vision who has to navigate their way around a room with their eyes closed will quickly rely on their arms and hands to explore the room. The authors' device allows a person to "feel" their environment without touching it. Due to inherent difficulties in testing human subjects when navigating a real environment, a virtual environment affords us an opportunity to scientifically and extensively test the prototype before deploying the device in the real-world. Research limitations/implications -This project serves as a starting-point for further research in benchmarking assistive technology for the visually impaired and to eventually develop a man-machine sensorimotor model that will improve current state-of-the-art technology, as well as a better understanding of neural coding in the human brain. Social implications -Based on 2012 World Health Organization, there are 39 million blind people. This project will have a direct impact on this community. Originality/value -The paper demonstrates a low cost design of assistive technology that has been tested and evaluated in real and virtual environments, as well as integration of sensor designs and neuroscience.
WaiLun Khoo et al. in REF have described how a wearable range-vibrotactile device is designed and tested in the real-world setting, as well as thorough evaluations in a virtual environment for complicated navigation tasks and neuroscience studies.
Designing and testing wearable range‐vibrotactile devices
Journal of Assistive Technologies
Engineering