The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a $300,000 Early-Concept Grant for Exploratory Research (EAGER) to New York University (NYU) to study how individuals with visual impairment navigate through crowded urban environments. The project, titled "EAGER: TASK DCL: Navigation in Crowds for Persons with Blindness/Low Vision: A Virtual Environment to Explore Multimodal Sensory Processing", aims to leverage virtual reality and wearable devices to elucidate the sensorimotor interactions and cognitive processes underlying navigation decisions for persons with visual impairment. Specifically, the project will create simulated urban environments enriched with advanced auditory and haptic cues to better understand the challenges faced by this population. The insights gained from this 2-year research project (Sept 2024 - Aug 2026) will inform the development of wearable technologies to enhance the safety and independence of individuals with visual impairment.
Generated 1/28/25, 7:04 AM