New Video Game Helps The Blind Navigate Using ‘Virtual Maps’

By Anthony Brooks
Nov 8, 2011, 3:30 PM
3 Comments

Neuroscientist Lotfi Merabet is developing a video game designed to help the blind find their way through a building. (Courtesy)

When it comes to helping the blind navigate through the world, there are several options. A cane is probably one of the most useful tools. Seeing-eye dogs can also be a huge help. And there are portable GPS systems that can help as well.

But here in Boston, researchers are developing another tool to help the blind: video games.

Lotfi Merabet, a neuroscientist at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston, is developing a video game designed to help the blind find their way through a building — and it has huge potential.

Guests:

Lotfi Merabet, neuroscientist at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston

You can read more about Merabet’s research in an article featured in the journal Science, here. Our piece was produced with help from Gauthier Giacomoni.

TyroneJ

Seems like much ado about nothing, as this type of game existed almost 40 years ago. For those who were in the computer & science arenas in the 1970′s and 1980′s, there were command line computer games (such as Zork, later called Dungeon http://gunkies.org/wiki/Zork ) where one had to work though complex labyrinths, collect objects, fight trolls, etc all only by description. The first version was created in the 70′s. You’d type commands like “take object” or “open door” and be given an update to the description of your surroundings. You’d have to build the “picture” of your environment in your head. Zork of example, would start as:

# ./zork
You are in an open field west of a big white house with a boarded
front door.
There is a small mailbox here.
>open mailbox
Opening the mailbox reveals:
A leaflet.
>take leaflet
Taken.
>read leaflet
Welcome to Dungeon!

Dungeon is a game of adventure, danger, and low cunning. In it
you will explore some of the most amazing territory ever seen by mortal
man. Hardened adventurers have run screaming from the terrors contained
within.

In Dungeon, the intrepid explorer delves into the forgotten secrets
of a lost labyrinth deep in the bowels of the earth, searching for
vast treasures long hidden from prying eyes, treasures guarded by
fearsome monsters and diabolical traps!

No DECsystem should be without one!

Dungeon was created at the Programming Technology Division of the MIT
Laboratory for Computer Science by Tim Anderson, Marc Blank, Bruce
Daniels, and Dave Lebling. It was inspired by the Adventure game of
Crowther and Woods, and the Dungeons and Dragons game of Gygax
and Arneson. The original version was written in MDL (alias MUDDLE).
The current version was translated from MDL into FORTRAN IV by
a somewhat paranoid DEC engineer who prefers to remain anonymous.

On-line information may be obtained with the commands HELP and INFO.
>
Dezaree curtis

I think that this is a good idea but I need to know how exactly you did this? Me and my friend are making this a science fair project I hope you can help us!
Chamaleanplatypus

AWesome!!! I’m making one too!!! With My science fair partner and i’m only 10!!!!!!!!!

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New Video Game Helps The Blind Navigate Using ‘Virtual Maps’