Computerized Image Enhancement for Visually Impaired Persons: New Technology, New Possibilities

1986 ◽  
Vol 80 (7) ◽  
pp. 849-854
Author(s):  
E. Pell ◽  
L. E. Arend ◽  
G. T. Timberlake

Patients with age-related visual loss suffer reduced ability to recognize faces and other scenes in photographs and on television. Recently, progress has been made in image enhancement, using controlled distortion of digitally stored images that increases their usefulness in particular applications. Described are two approaches to image enhancement for the visually impaired. In one approach, the visual losses that characterize individual patients and disease classes are described using detailed measurements of visual degradation transfer functions, which are profiles of loss of image information at various spatial scales. The particular distortion used for image enhancement is then adjusted to the impairment of the individual patient or disease class. A second approach takes advantage of the resemblance between the visual losses of many patients and the degradation of picture information in other applications due to external limitations (e.g., fog and haze) on photography. Several enhancement algorithms have been found useful with such images and may also improve picture recognition by the visually impaired.

Author(s):  
Jolanta Brzostek-Pawłowska

The article tackles the problem of improving mathematical communication in a group of students with different visual impairment levels, under the guidance of a group leader or a teacher. Visually impaired persons face a problem while learning mathematics. The said problem results from the specific nature in which mathematical content (formulas, function graphs, geometrical figures and projections of solids) is recorded and presented. The effectiveness of learning mathematics is boosted when students work in a group moderated by a leader. This requires them to share documents, with the leader being able to keep track of the individual work of each participant, and with the group discussing specific solutions. In order for a visually impaired student to be able to participate in and contribute to the work of the group, either remotely or locally, all participants must use universal IT tools that support visually impaired students without complicating the work of others. This paper presents interactive multimedia solutions developed under two research projects carried out by the author. The said solutions support communication in mathematics. Results of qualitative surveys on new solutions are presented, confirming their usefulness and the measurable impact they exert on the efficiency of the group’s work concerning mathematical problems.


2003 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 168-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans-Werner Wahl ◽  
Oliver Schilling ◽  
Stefanie Becker ◽  
David Burmedi

The present paper argues that psychosocial adaptation in visually impaired older adults is substantially mediated by the use of control strategies. Our first research question against this general conceptual background is whether there are differences between visually impaired older adults and unimpaired older adults in control strategies or variables considered as major adaptational outcome variables in the behavioral and emotional domain. Our second research question addresses the kind of relations between control strategies and outcomes in visually impaired older adults. The findings are based on a sample of N = 90 visually impaired older adults (mean age: 79.5; 64 women, 26 men; all suffering from age-related macular degeneration; visual acuity less than 20/70) as well as a reference group of N = 35 unimpaired older adults. All participants underwent a standardized psychological assessment program based on internationally well-established measures. Findings support the notion that differences between the visually impaired and the unimpaired are most pronounced in behavioral indicators such as activities of daily living and leisure activity level, while control strategies were different in only one instance, pointing to a stronger tendency in visually impaired persons toward compensatory control efforts. Furthermore, selective control, which is investing time and effort to change one's environment, covaries most strongly with behavioral outcomes, while selective control aimed to strengthen the motivational commitment to important life goals covaries most strongly with emotional adaptation. The results generally illustrate the heuristic fruitfulness of psychological control theory in understanding adaptation in visually impaired older adults.


2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Noornajihan Jaafar

Diploma in Tahfiz Da'wah wa al-Quran at Darul Quran JAKIM is specially offered to the Visually Impaired Persons (VIP). This program provides an opportunity for them to compete equally with normal people in memorizing and understanding the Holy Quran. This paper is part of the research findings are being conducted between the Faculty of Quran and Sunnah, USIM and JAKIM. The main objective of this paper is to identify several factors that influence visually impaired student achievement in this program, especially in interaction with Braille Quran. Instruments used for this study are protocol interviews and observations on the course Tahfiz al-Quran course. In addition, Crawford and Godbey’s model (1997) is used to describe the factors that influence student achievement in the study OKUMP Tahfiz al-Quran. The findings showed that there are several factors that influence the achievement of these students to memorize the Quran. It is based on structural factors, interpersonal and intrapersonal factors as featured in Crawford and Godbey model. Several suggestions have been made in research to improve the supply of this program and to allow further research to be conducted.


Author(s):  
Mohd Rehbar Khan

The scope of this study is to create a product that will benefit persons who are blind or have to rely on others frequently. This is a unique concept that enables visually impaired persons to move around and go from one location to another with speed and confidence by identifying surrounding obstructions. They merely need to hold this device in their hands like a regular stick, and it will assist the individual in overcoming the impending challenges. Ultrasonic, Moisture, and Night sensors are among the sensors included. Designing an assistive system for visually impaired persons that can detect impediments and suggest alternate pathways for the blind are among the goals of this research project.


Mediaevistik ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 366-366
Author(s):  
Albrecht Classen

Eddic poetry constitutes one of the most important genres in Old Norse or Scandinavian literature and has been studied since the earliest time of modern-day philology. The progress we have made in that field is impressive, considering the many excellent editions and translations, not to mention the countless critical studies in monographs and articles. Nevertheless, there is always a great need to revisit, to summarize, to review, and to digest the knowledge gained so far. The present handbook intends to address all those goals and does so, to spell it out right away, exceedingly well. But in contrast to traditional concepts, the individual contributions constitute fully developed critical article, each with a specialized topic elucidating it as comprehensively as possible, and concluding with a section of notes. Those are kept very brief, but the volume rounds it all off with an inclusive, comprehensive bibliography. And there is also a very useful index at the end. At the beginning, we find, following the table of contents, a list of the contributors, unfortunately without emails, a list of translations and abbreviations of the titles of Eddic poems in the Codex Regius and then elsewhere, and a very insightful and pleasant introduction by Carolyne Larrington. She briefly introduces the genre and then summarizes the essential points made by the individual authors. The entire volume is based on the Eddic Network established by the three editors in 2012, and on two workshops held at St. John’s College, Oxford in 2013 and 2014.


2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (8) ◽  
pp. 2306-2310
Author(s):  
Aureliana Caraiane ◽  
Razvan Leata ◽  
Veronica Toba ◽  
Doina Vesa ◽  
Luana Andreea Macovei ◽  
...  

The progress made in dentistry during the latest decades is due, conceptually, to the new, systemic vision of man, which has also taken place in this field of medicine. In this context, the link between organic and psychic is indestructible. Thus illness is understood as a drama in which the somatic process has a psychic value, and the mental one has a body value. It is known that the morphological and functional integrity of the dental system, health and vigorousness, gives the individual a state of well-being that affects his somatic and psychic health, as any disturbance at this level entails repercussions in psychological and social behavior. Such a disruption is the total edification that seriously alters not only the dental system but the whole organism, putting various biological and psychosocial problems to the practitioner. The total expression represents not only a physical disability but also a psychological one. A special importance in studying psychological changes at total edentulous presents the psychological aspects of senile involution. This is not only a theoretical but also a practical importance due to the increase in the number of elderly people. Through the researches of the present paper we intend to present the reality of the psychological manifestations in the total edentation, which is objectified on different methods of psychodiagnosis in the first part, in order for the second part to be addressed to problems of prosthetic psychotherapy.The study comprises a group of 43 patients, of whom 24 were men and 19 women with total uni or bimaxilar edentation. Total edentation can be and is responsible for somatopsychic alterations, along with other pathogens, general, local, social, which sometimes can take a dramatic form, converting, where the area is also favorable, a pure somatic disease, for those who are not in psychopathy or even psychosis, although these latter cases are extremely rare and especially in youngsters, which would disrupt not only the person�s behavior as an individual, but also their status, function and social integrity. The treatment of dental and psychological complex is mandatory for any patient, but especially for the elderly, where recovery is more difficult, with disease-specific disorders adding to those of senescence.


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Nkiko ◽  
Morayo I. Atinmo ◽  
Happiness Chijioke Michael-Onuoha ◽  
Julie E. Ilogho ◽  
Michael O. Fagbohun ◽  
...  

Studies have shown inadequate reading materials for the visually impaired in Nigeria. Information technology has greatly advanced the provision of information to the visually impaired in other industrialized climes. This study investigated the extent of application of information technology to the transcription of reading materials for the visually impaired in Nigeria. The study adopted survey research design of the ex-post facto to select 470 personnel as respondents. A questionnaire titled Information Technology Use Scale (α=0.74), and Interview Schedule (α=0.75), were used. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson Product Moment Correlation. The findings indicate that information technology in transcription was low and a significant positive relationship between application of information technology and transcription of information materials (r=0.62: p<0.05). The study recommended among others that Multi-National Corporations should be sensitized to extend their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities to help in procuring modern information technology devices and software to enhance transcription.


Author(s):  
Lucy Beishon ◽  
Rebecca H. Clough ◽  
Meeriam Kadicheeni ◽  
Tamara Chithiramohan ◽  
Ronney B. Panerai ◽  
...  

AbstractThe population is ageing worldwide, thus increasing the burden of common age-related disorders to the individual, society and economy. Cerebrovascular diseases (stroke, dementia) contribute a significant proportion of this burden and are associated with high morbidity and mortality. Thus, understanding and promoting healthy vascular brain ageing are becoming an increasing priority for healthcare systems. In this review, we consider the effects of normal ageing on two major physiological processes responsible for vascular brain function: Cerebral autoregulation (CA) and neurovascular coupling (NVC). CA is the process by which the brain regulates cerebral blood flow (CBF) and protects against falls and surges in cerebral perfusion pressure, which risk hypoxic brain injury and pressure damage, respectively. In contrast, NVC is the process by which CBF is matched to cerebral metabolic activity, ensuring adequate local oxygenation and nutrient delivery for increased neuronal activity. Healthy ageing is associated with a number of key physiological adaptations in these processes to mitigate age-related functional and structural declines. Through multiple different paradigms assessing CA in healthy younger and older humans, generating conflicting findings, carbon dioxide studies in CA have provided the greatest understanding of intrinsic vascular anatomical factors that may mediate healthy ageing responses. In NVC, studies have found mixed results, with reduced, equivalent and increased activation of vascular responses to cognitive stimulation. In summary, vascular and haemodynamic changes occur in response to ageing and are important in distinguishing “normal” ageing from disease states and may help to develop effective therapeutic strategies to promote healthy brain ageing.


Author(s):  
Pablo Cazenave ◽  
Ming Gao ◽  
Hans Deeb ◽  
Sean Black

The project “Development of an Industry Test Facility and Qualification Processes for in-line inspection (ILI) technology Evaluation and Enhancements” aims to expand knowledge of ILI technology performance and identify gaps where new technology is needed. Additionally, this project also aims to provide ILI technology developers, researchers and pipeline operators a continuing resource for accessing test samples with a range of pipeline integrity threats and vintages; and inline technology test facilities at the Technology Development Center (TDC) of Pipeline Research Council International, Inc. (PRCI), a PRCI managed facility available for future industry and PHMSA research projects. An ILI pull test facility was designed and constructed as part of this project based on industry state-of-the-art and opportunities for capability improvement. The major ILI technology providers, together with pipeline operator team members, reviewed the TDC sample inventory and developed a series of ILI performance tests illustrating one of multiple possible research objectives, culminating in 16-inch and 24-inch nominal diameter test strings. The ILI technology providers proposed appropriate inspection tools based on the types of the integrity threats in the test strings, a series of pull tests of the provided ILI tools were performed, and the technology providers delivered reports of integrity anomaly location and dimensions for performance evaluation. Quantitative measures of detection and sizing performance were confidentially disclosed to the individual ILI technology providers. For instances where ILI predictions were outside of claimed performance, the vendors were given a limited sample of actual defect data to enable re-analysis, thus demonstrating the potential for improved integrity assessment with validation measurements. In this paper, an evaluation of the ILI data obtained from repeated pull-through testing on the 16 and 24-inch pipeline strings at the TDC is performed. The resulting data was aligned, analyzed, and compared to truth data and the findings of the evaluation are presented.


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