Visual Aids Based on Ultrasonic Sensors
to Increase Mobility of Patient
with Blindness or Low Vision
Mihaela Ioana Baritz and Mirela Gabriela Apostoaie
Abstract Manifestations of ocular pathologies in the visual perception often induce
visual impairment, but also discomfort, which motivates the creation of dedicated
help. Analyzing the manifestations of different ocular pathologies that occur at birth
or with aging, the idea of creating a system for increasing the mobility of patients
with low vision or blindness has been outlined. In the first part of the paper, there
are presented general aspects related to the changes of the posture and the mobility
of the subjects in relation to the decrease of the visual function. In the second part
of the paper, there are presented the main aspects of visual aids device designing
to increase the mobility of subjects with low vision. These devices are based on
ultrasonic sensors to measure distances to the obstacles a patient with blindness or
low vision may encounter in his gait or mobility activity for different actions. In the
final part of the paper, there are presented the results highlighted in the procedure
for evaluating the mobility in gait and the conclusions regarding the method and
construction of the devices.
1 Introduction
Low vision status for patients with ocular pathologies may occur over a longer period
of time (order of years) or shorter (weekly). This condition is usually painless, but
with specific manifestations such as the contrast, the need for more light radiation
in the environment, visual field loss, the dramatic decrease in visual acuity, and the
poor perception of colors. The condition of blindness is the final phase of evolution in
the process of diminishing patient vision and has a very strong behavioral, medical,
social, and even an economic impact on their ability to reintegrate and re-adapt to the
M. I. Baritz (B) · M. G. Apostoaie
Product Design, Mechatronics and Environment Department, Transilvania University Brasov,
B-ul Eroilor Nr. 29, 500036 Brasov, Romania
e-mail: mbaritz@unitbv.ro
M. G. Apostoaie
e-mail: mirela.apostoaie@gmail.com
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
N. Herisanu and V. Marinca (eds.), Acoustics and Vibration of Mechanical
Structures—AVMS 2019, Springer Proceedings in Physics 251,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-54136-1_23
243
to Increase Mobility of Patient
with Blindness or Low Vision
Mihaela Ioana Baritz and Mirela Gabriela Apostoaie
Abstract Manifestations of ocular pathologies in the visual perception often induce
visual impairment, but also discomfort, which motivates the creation of dedicated
help. Analyzing the manifestations of different ocular pathologies that occur at birth
or with aging, the idea of creating a system for increasing the mobility of patients
with low vision or blindness has been outlined. In the first part of the paper, there
are presented general aspects related to the changes of the posture and the mobility
of the subjects in relation to the decrease of the visual function. In the second part
of the paper, there are presented the main aspects of visual aids device designing
to increase the mobility of subjects with low vision. These devices are based on
ultrasonic sensors to measure distances to the obstacles a patient with blindness or
low vision may encounter in his gait or mobility activity for different actions. In the
final part of the paper, there are presented the results highlighted in the procedure
for evaluating the mobility in gait and the conclusions regarding the method and
construction of the devices.
1 Introduction
Low vision status for patients with ocular pathologies may occur over a longer period
of time (order of years) or shorter (weekly). This condition is usually painless, but
with specific manifestations such as the contrast, the need for more light radiation
in the environment, visual field loss, the dramatic decrease in visual acuity, and the
poor perception of colors. The condition of blindness is the final phase of evolution in
the process of diminishing patient vision and has a very strong behavioral, medical,
social, and even an economic impact on their ability to reintegrate and re-adapt to the
M. I. Baritz (B) · M. G. Apostoaie
Product Design, Mechatronics and Environment Department, Transilvania University Brasov,
B-ul Eroilor Nr. 29, 500036 Brasov, Romania
e-mail: mbaritz@unitbv.ro
M. G. Apostoaie
e-mail: mirela.apostoaie@gmail.com
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
N. Herisanu and V. Marinca (eds.), Acoustics and Vibration of Mechanical
Structures—AVMS 2019, Springer Proceedings in Physics 251,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-54136-1_23
243