Visibility Vol 7 Issue 3, 2013

Spatial updating refers to the ability to keep track of one’s position and orientation while moving through an environment. People with low vision sometimes become disoriented, even in familiar environments. We asked how different forms of visual impairment affect spatial updating, and what role non-visual cues may play. To study the impact of visual impairment, normally sighted subjects wore goggles to simulate reduced acuity and severe field restriction. We reduced acoustic information in the environment by auditory noise masking. We reduced the signals generated by walking from muscles and joints (proprioceptive and kinesthetic) by moving subjects while they sat passively in a wheelchair.