In a cooperative effort between Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, researchers have produced a new way to help the blind get around better: videogames. You may be scratching your head, as the two main components of playing most games requires the use of the hands and eyes, but head scientist Dr. Lotfi Merabet found a way.
Forced to rely on tactile and auditory cues, individuals without eyesight face more difficulty traversing unfamiliar environments. The Audio-Based Environment Simulator or AbES mimics real-world navigation by creating a virtual setting based off of computer-generated layouts of public buildings. Armed with headphones and a keyboard, participants were charged with finding specific items, namely jewels, and successfully exiting the building without getting caught by roaming guards.
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via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/new-game-helps-improve-navigational-skills-for-the-blind-250599.phtml