Spatial Audio Training for Visually Impaired Users Navigation in VR: An Analytical Approach
摘要
Vision impairment is four times more prevalent in developing countries like India as compared to high-income areas and impacts the psychological development of a person in many ways. This paper explores training methods for partially visually impaired individuals (PVIs) using Virtual Reality (VR) technology. The study discusses the development of a VR game in a school environment aimed at improving spatial audio perception among partially visually impaired users. We conducted a user study that addresses a significant gap in educational and training tools for PVIs. This study found that the users could locate the sound source within 15 dB sound attenuation, with the best result locating within 6 dB sound attenuation falling within the radius of 22 cm from the sound source, suggesting potential in training. The findings suggest the potential efficiency of VR-based training in enhancing spatial perception skills in the partially visually impaired, as the results are concurrent with those in real-world settings.