Sensory Assistive Technologies for Impaired Persons
Empowerment of disabled people by non-invasive rehabilitation technologies that enhance the senses
The team narrows the gap between the society and people with visual or acoustic impairments by improving accessibility to environmental information. The study is about ways of translating visual information into tactile content through the phenomenon of ‘sensory substitution’ and about ways of artificially filtering sounds to increase speech understanding. The ultimate goal is to build low-cost solutions to narrow the digital divide.
The project methodology involves creating new technologies that do not replace but complement rehabilitation practices. The research is therefore synergistic with rehabilitation and represents a bottom-up process: feedback from target groups are used to improve the stimulation provided by the devices. The researchers have developed strong links with societal actors, i.e. rehabilitation practitioners, teachers and families of end users.
Team
Robotics, Brain and Cognitive Sciences department, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia: one senior researcher, three postdocs, four Ph.D students and three part-time technicians
Partners
Ten European partners from a variety of countries and backgrounds are involved
Project timeframe
The research started in 2010 and will probably end in December 2016
Project Location
Genova, ITALY
Contact
https://www.iit.it/people/luca-brayda
Luca Brayda luca.brayda[at]iit.it