Computer Vision System for the Blind Veteran

NCT ID: NCT00920231

Last Updated: 2016-01-22

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: PHASE1
• Total Enrollment: 16 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2011-11-30
• Study Completion Date: 2015-09-30

Brief Summary

This is a feasibility study involving a small number of blind subject to evaluate the effectiveness of using a software and associated hardware components to assist the blind in identifying and locating objects of interests and to assist in way finding tasks. After the system has been successfully tested by the blindfolded engineers, it will be evaluated in a small number of blind subjects.

Detailed Description

This is primarily an engineering project to develop computer vision algorithms for an integrated system comprising of a laptop computer, webcam, gps, digital compass, microphone, and stereo earphones. The system will be voice controlled. The algorithm will be trained to identify and located objects and navigationally landmarks in real-time, previously selected by sighted developers. After the system has passed objective engineering milestones, blind subjects will be tested to determine whether the novel system will improve the ability of the blind to travel over a test course in a hospital setting.

Conditions

Blindness

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NON_RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: SUPPORTIVE_CARE
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Arm 1 initial system

8 blind subjects are asked to use a prototype computer vision system to determine the challenges facing computer vision based indoor navigation.

Subjects are asked to travel through the hallways of a large hospital from the front entrance to a side entrance. The pathway consists of 9 segments including corners, four-way intersections, and doorways, and the total length of the route was approximately 200 meters. This challenging route was designed to stress the capabilities of the navigation system. It is a route that even sighted persons may find difficult to follow without practice. Pedestrian traffic was present throughout the route and lighting conditions could change in two of the segments where there were windows and doors.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

initial system

Intervention Type: DEVICE

The computer vision system is used to assist blind subject to navigate an extended path with multiple turns within a hospital setting.The initial prototype system would have been successfully tested for outdoor navigation and basic object recognition tasks.

Arm 2 modified system

The system is redesigned in response to problems identified from the first phase of the study. The redesigned system is tested by a second set of 8 blind subjects in the same indoor path as used in Arm 1.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

modified system

Intervention Type: DEVICE

The problems associated with the initial system were identified and modified. This modified system was tested with a second separate group of subjects. The redesigned system is used to assist blind subject to navigate the same extended path with multiple turns within a hospital setting.

Interventions

initial system

The computer vision system is used to assist blind subject to navigate an extended path with multiple turns within a hospital setting.The initial prototype system would have been successfully tested for outdoor navigation and basic object recognition tasks.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

modified system

The problems associated with the initial system were identified and modified. This modified system was tested with a second separate group of subjects. The redesigned system is used to assist blind subject to navigate the same extended path with multiple turns within a hospital setting.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• age 18 and over
• legally blind

Exclusion Criteria

• decreased hearing
• unable to understand or follow instructions
• inability to walk and stand for 10 minutes

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 80 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

VA Office of Research and Development

FED

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Cha-Min Tang, PhD MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Baltimore VA Medical Center VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore, MD

Locations

Atlanta VA Medical and Rehab Center, Decatur

Decatur, Georgia, United States

Baltimore VA Medical Center VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore, MD

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Countries

United States

Other Identifiers

C6731-R

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id