Blind children navigation through gaming and associated brain plasticity

Blind people have difficulty navigating and traveling autonomously and efficiently mainly because they cannot access information about their environment in a quick and efficient manner. We present the design, development and the evaluation of usability of Audio-Based Environments Simulator (AbES) software that enables a blind user to navigate through a virtual representation of a real space in order to train his/her orientation and mobility skills. Our findings indicate that users feel satisfied with the proposed interface, are sure of themselves when interacting with the software, and the incorporated sounds allow them to become correctly oriented within the virtual world that they navigate. AbES is also being used to study changes and adaptations at the level of the brain related to navigation by incorporating the software within a neuroimaging environment. Our results suggest that this kind of virtual environment is highly efficient as a testing, training and rehabilitation platform for learning and navigation.