Interactive wearable digital devices for blind and partially sighted people

Abstract

Digital information has permeated all aspects of life, and diverse forms of information exert a profound influence on social interactions and cognitive perceptions. In contrast to the flourishing of digital interaction devices for sighted users, the needs of blind and partially sighted users for digital interaction devices have not been adequately addressed. Current assistive devices often cause frustration in blind and partially sighted users owing to the limited efficiency and reliability of information delivery and the high cognitive load associated with their use. The expected rise in the prevalence of blindness and visual impairment due to global population ageing drives an urgent need for assistive devices that can deliver information effectively and non-visually, and thereby overcome the challenges faced by this community. This Perspective presents three potential directions in assistive device design: multisensory learning and integration; gestural interaction control; and the synchronization of tactile feedback with large-scale visual language models. Future trends in assistive devices for use by blind and partially sighted people are also explored, focusing on metrics for text delivery efficiency and the enhancement of image content delivery. Such devices promise to greatly enrich the lives of blind and partially sighted individuals in the digital age. Blind and partially sighted individuals face considerable challenges when interacting with digital information. This Perspective highlights important bottlenecks in information accessibility, design considerations for future wearable assistive devices and the outlook for improved access to and delivery of information in text and images.