Computer Vision System for the Blind Veteran

NCT00920231 | Completed Phase 1 Results

• 1 other identifier: C6731-R
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 16
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

This is a feasibility study involving a small number of blind subject to evaluate the effectiveness of using a software and associated hardware components to assist the blind in identifying and locating objects of interests and to assist in way finding tasks. After the system has been successfully tested by the blindfolded engineers, it will be evaluated in a small number of blind subjects.

Conditions

Blindness

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Frequency of Device Failures Per Attempt to Complete a Navigation Course

  device failures were defined as any failure to provide correct location and direction information at thre appropriate time, resulting in a mistake that needed the initial prototype's ability to meet their travel needs at a good to excellent range.

  The subject is given as much time as needed to complete the task

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Ability to Meet the Subjective Travel Needs of the Blind Subject

  no time limit

Study Arms (2)

Arm 1 initial system

EXPERIMENTAL

8 blind subjects are asked to use a prototype computer vision system to determine the challenges facing computer vision based indoor navigation. Subjects are asked to travel through the hallways of a large hospital from the front entrance to a side entrance. The pathway consists of 9 segments including corners, four-way intersections, and doorways, and the total length of the route was approximately 200 meters. This challenging route was designed to stress the capabilities of the navigation system. It is a route that even sighted persons may find difficult to follow without practice. Pedestrian traffic was present throughout the route and lighting conditions could change in two of the segments where there were windows and doors.

Device: initial system

Arm 2 modified system

EXPERIMENTAL

The system is redesigned in response to problems identified from the first phase of the study. The redesigned system is tested by a second set of 8 blind subjects in the same indoor path as used in Arm 1.

Device: modified system

Interventions

initial system DEVICE

The computer vision system is used to assist blind subject to navigate an extended path with multiple turns within a hospital setting.The initial prototype system would have been successfully tested for outdoor navigation and basic object recognition tasks.

Arm 1 initial system

modified system DEVICE

The problems associated with the initial system were identified and modified. This modified system was tested with a second separate group of subjects. The redesigned system is used to assist blind subject to navigate the same extended path with multiple turns within a hospital setting.

Arm 2 modified system

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 80 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• age 18 and over
• legally blind

You may not qualify if:

• decreased hearing
• unable to understand or follow instructions
• inability to walk and stand for 10 minutes

Sponsors & Collaborators

• VA Office of Research and Development: lead

Study Sites (2)

Atlanta VA Medical and Rehab Center, Decatur

Decatur, Georgia, 30033, United States

Location

Baltimore VA Medical Center VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore, MD

Baltimore, Maryland, 21201, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Blindness

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Vision Disorders; Sensation Disorders; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Eye Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Dr Cha-Min Tang
• Organization: Baltimore VA MC

ctang@som.umaryland.edu

410 706-2347

Study Officials

• Cha-Min Tang, PhD MD

  Baltimore VA Medical Center VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore, MD

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: No
• Restrictive Agreement: No

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: phase 1
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: FED
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 11, 2009
• First Posted: June 15, 2009
• Study Start: November 1, 2011
• Primary Completion: December 1, 2013
• Study Completion: September 1, 2015
• Last Updated: January 22, 2016
• Results First Posted: April 2, 2015

Record last verified: 2015-12

Locations

US (2)