Chief Supervisor

Prof. Allen CHEONG

Project Title

Synopsis

Mobility and orientation performance are important factors determining the quality and safety of life for people with visual impairment. Unfortunately, due to reduced visual acuity, restricted visual field, or lower contrast sensitivity, many patients complain about difficulties to go out independently. Especially, they have difficulty to detect obstacles and curbs, orientate, and navigate to their destinations. These compromised abilities do not only lead to worse mobility performance but also induce a higher rate of falls compared with normal people.

My research aims to investigate the mobility and orientation performance in visually impaired people by examining their visual and physical factors on mobility and navigation functions. For example, walking speed, stride length, obstacle detection rate, and so on. The results of this research help us develop customized aids to improve visually impaired patients’ mobility and navigation ability, increase their confidence for independent and safe travel, and enhance their quality of life.