See My World: look at the world through the eyes of visually impaired people
Have you ever wondered how people with eye diseases see the world?
Sensor-Tech Laboratoryhas released a mobile application See My World, which allows you to find out how people with different visual pathologies see the world. We decided to learn more about the system of virtual simulation of eye diseases.
The application is free and available for download on Android and iOS . At startup, you must select one of two modes. To see the difference in the perception of the world by visually impaired and without, you can use VR glasses or a regular mobile phone camera.
Image: screenshot from the program.
To begin, you need to choose one of the diseases. We open the list of the offered pathologies and we begin with the first - retinal detachment. Some of our wards have encountered this disease. And I would like to understand how they see the world before and after the operation.
The application does not immediately open the simulation mode. First, an information window appears. Detailed information is collected about each pathology in See My World. You can learn about the symptoms of the disease, ways to prevent and treat it.
This information may be a reason for some users to consult an ophthalmologist. And, for example, at the same retinal detachment results of treatment in many respects depend on speed of diagnosis. Therefore, introductory windows are an important element of the program.
This is how the left eye sees with retinal detachment. Image: screenshot from the program.
After reading the description, started the mode of simulation of pathology. Of course, the greatest effect will come out if you wear VR glasses. But the phone’s camera also helps to feel what difficulties and problems people with the chosen disorder face in everyday life.
By default, the application shows pathology only on the left eye. We point the camera at the objects that surround us every day. In the right window we see them as usual, but on the left their outlines change and fade. What is a table or bookcase, we know only because we are in a familiar environment.
And if the pathology affected both eyes? With the help of buttons you can choose which eye vision will be impaired, as well as turn on or off the image on each of the eyes.
Some diseases are combined. To connect another filter, swipe the screen from left to right and select additional conditions to simulate the pathology. Only certain filters are suitable for each disease, so you have to take turns choosing all the options and look at the result.
The application also has a special function to simulate bionic vision. With See My World you can assess the level of modern visual implants and learn how they work. The application has a simulation of three different implants.
This is how the Alpha AMS prosthetic system works. Image: screenshot from the program.
According to the World Health Organization, about 1.3 billion people in the world live with some form of visual impairment. Approximately 80% of all visual impairments are considered preventable.
But in severe diseases help only high-tech and expensive technologies - gene therapy or eye prosthetics with special implants.
To support research and development that will help the blind and partially sighted, the team of the Sensor-Tech laboratory with the participation of grants launched the project "How to regain sight? Bionic visual prostheses and virtual reality ".
See My World is part of the project. Specialists have also created the first VR-simulator, which allows anyone to "try on" a retinal implant and see the world "bionic vision".
To help as many people as possible learn about promising ways to restore vision, the team of the Sensor-Tech laboratory will also conduct interactive educational activities. You can follow the news and schedule on the project page.
Read also:Charity and modern technologies in 2018
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Sensor-Tech Laboratoryhas released a mobile application See My World, which allows you to find out how people with different visual pathologies see the world. We decided to learn more about the system of virtual simulation of eye diseases.
The application is free and available for download on Android and iOS . At startup, you must select one of two modes. To see the difference in the perception of the world by visually impaired and without, you can use VR glasses or a regular mobile phone camera.
Image: screenshot from the program.To begin, you need to choose one of the diseases. We open the list of the offered pathologies and we begin with the first - retinal detachment. Some of our wards have encountered this disease. And I would like to understand how they see the world before and after the operation.
The application does not immediately open the simulation mode. First, an information window appears. Detailed information is collected about each pathology in See My World. You can learn about the symptoms of the disease, ways to prevent and treat it.
This information may be a reason for some users to consult an ophthalmologist. And, for example, at the same retinal detachment results of treatment in many respects depend on speed of diagnosis. Therefore, introductory windows are an important element of the program.
This is how the left eye sees with retinal detachment. Image: screenshot from the program. After reading the description, started the mode of simulation of pathology. Of course, the greatest effect will come out if you wear VR glasses. But the phone’s camera also helps to feel what difficulties and problems people with the chosen disorder face in everyday life.
By default, the application shows pathology only on the left eye. We point the camera at the objects that surround us every day. In the right window we see them as usual, but on the left their outlines change and fade. What is a table or bookcase, we know only because we are in a familiar environment.
And if the pathology affected both eyes? With the help of buttons you can choose which eye vision will be impaired, as well as turn on or off the image on each of the eyes. Some diseases are combined. To connect another filter, swipe the screen from left to right and select additional conditions to simulate the pathology. Only certain filters are suitable for each disease, so you have to take turns choosing all the options and look at the result.
The application also has a special function to simulate bionic vision. With See My World you can assess the level of modern visual implants and learn how they work. The application has a simulation of three different implants. This is how the Alpha AMS prosthetic system works. Image: screenshot from the program. According to the World Health Organization, about 1.3 billion people in the world live with some form of visual impairment. Approximately 80% of all visual impairments are considered preventable.
But in severe diseases help only high-tech and expensive technologies - gene therapy or eye prosthetics with special implants.
To support research and development that will help the blind and partially sighted, the team of the Sensor-Tech laboratory with the participation of grants launched the project "How to regain sight? Bionic visual prostheses and virtual reality ".
See My World is part of the project. Specialists have also created the first VR-simulator, which allows anyone to "try on" a retinal implant and see the world "bionic vision".
To help as many people as possible learn about promising ways to restore vision, the team of the Sensor-Tech laboratory will also conduct interactive educational activities. You can follow the news and schedule on the project page.
Read also:Charity and modern technologies in 2018
DONATION