Inertial Measurement Unit Sensors in Assistive Technologies for Visually Impaired People, a Review
A diverse array of assistive technologies have been developed to help Visually Impaired People (VIP) face many basic daily autonomy challenges. Inertial measurement unit sensors, on the other hand, have been used for navigation, guidance, and localization but especially for full body motion tracking...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-07-01
|
| Series: | Sensors |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/21/14/4767 |
| _version_ | 1827686857712861184 |
|---|---|
| author | Karla Miriam Reyes Leiva Milagros Jaén-Vargas Benito Codina José Javier Serrano Olmedo |
| author_facet | Karla Miriam Reyes Leiva Milagros Jaén-Vargas Benito Codina José Javier Serrano Olmedo |
| author_sort | Karla Miriam Reyes Leiva |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A diverse array of assistive technologies have been developed to help Visually Impaired People (VIP) face many basic daily autonomy challenges. Inertial measurement unit sensors, on the other hand, have been used for navigation, guidance, and localization but especially for full body motion tracking due to their low cost and miniaturization, which have allowed the estimation of kinematic parameters and biomechanical analysis for different field of applications. The aim of this work was to present a comprehensive approach of assistive technologies for VIP that include inertial sensors as input, producing results on the comprehension of technical characteristics of the inertial sensors, the methodologies applied, and their specific role in each developed system. The results show that there are just a few inertial sensor-based systems. However, these sensors provide essential information when combined with optical sensors and radio signals for navigation and special application fields. The discussion includes new avenues of research, missing elements, and usability analysis, since a limitation evidenced in the selected articles is the lack of user-centered designs. Finally, regarding application fields, it has been highlighted that a gap exists in the literature regarding aids for rehabilitation and biomechanical analysis of VIP. Most of the findings are focused on navigation and obstacle detection, and this should be considered for future applications. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:24:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4992e2bf430c472caf02fed49eb5aa21 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:24:35Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj.art-4992e2bf430c472caf02fed49eb5aa212023-11-22T04:55:46ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202021-07-012114476710.3390/s21144767Inertial Measurement Unit Sensors in Assistive Technologies for Visually Impaired People, a ReviewKarla Miriam Reyes Leiva0Milagros Jaén-Vargas1Benito Codina2José Javier Serrano Olmedo3Center for Biomedical Technology (CTB), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28223 Madrid, SpainCenter for Biomedical Technology (CTB), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28223 Madrid, SpainDidactic and Educational Research Department, Universidad de La Laguna, 38204 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, SpainCenter for Biomedical Technology (CTB), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28223 Madrid, SpainA diverse array of assistive technologies have been developed to help Visually Impaired People (VIP) face many basic daily autonomy challenges. Inertial measurement unit sensors, on the other hand, have been used for navigation, guidance, and localization but especially for full body motion tracking due to their low cost and miniaturization, which have allowed the estimation of kinematic parameters and biomechanical analysis for different field of applications. The aim of this work was to present a comprehensive approach of assistive technologies for VIP that include inertial sensors as input, producing results on the comprehension of technical characteristics of the inertial sensors, the methodologies applied, and their specific role in each developed system. The results show that there are just a few inertial sensor-based systems. However, these sensors provide essential information when combined with optical sensors and radio signals for navigation and special application fields. The discussion includes new avenues of research, missing elements, and usability analysis, since a limitation evidenced in the selected articles is the lack of user-centered designs. Finally, regarding application fields, it has been highlighted that a gap exists in the literature regarding aids for rehabilitation and biomechanical analysis of VIP. Most of the findings are focused on navigation and obstacle detection, and this should be considered for future applications.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/21/14/4767accelerometerassistive technologiesgyroscopeIMUsvisually impairedusability |
| spellingShingle | Karla Miriam Reyes Leiva Milagros Jaén-Vargas Benito Codina José Javier Serrano Olmedo Inertial Measurement Unit Sensors in Assistive Technologies for Visually Impaired People, a Review Sensors accelerometer assistive technologies gyroscope IMUs visually impaired usability |
| title | Inertial Measurement Unit Sensors in Assistive Technologies for Visually Impaired People, a Review |
| title_full | Inertial Measurement Unit Sensors in Assistive Technologies for Visually Impaired People, a Review |
| title_fullStr | Inertial Measurement Unit Sensors in Assistive Technologies for Visually Impaired People, a Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Inertial Measurement Unit Sensors in Assistive Technologies for Visually Impaired People, a Review |
| title_short | Inertial Measurement Unit Sensors in Assistive Technologies for Visually Impaired People, a Review |
| title_sort | inertial measurement unit sensors in assistive technologies for visually impaired people a review |
| topic | accelerometer assistive technologies gyroscope IMUs visually impaired usability |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/21/14/4767 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT karlamiriamreyesleiva inertialmeasurementunitsensorsinassistivetechnologiesforvisuallyimpairedpeopleareview AT milagrosjaenvargas inertialmeasurementunitsensorsinassistivetechnologiesforvisuallyimpairedpeopleareview AT benitocodina inertialmeasurementunitsensorsinassistivetechnologiesforvisuallyimpairedpeopleareview AT josejavierserranoolmedo inertialmeasurementunitsensorsinassistivetechnologiesforvisuallyimpairedpeopleareview |