ABSTRACT
Vision is by any measure the richest of human sensing modalities. Loss of vision has serious consequences in almost all aspects of human life: moving around, caring for oneself, social interaction, education, employment, leisure. Without vision, the world (the natural world and the urban world) suddenly becomes less accessible. Even partial vision loss (experienced by a large portion of the ageing population) can lead to significant changes in lifestyle: difficulty reading a book, recognizing people, driving. Yet, thanks to technology, blind and low vision individual can and do live active and productive lives, with a level of independence that was unthinkable only a few decades ago. They travel, on foot or using public transportation, knowing exactly where they are and how to get to destination, thanks to accessible GPS systems. They use computers, enjoying the powerful resources provided by the Internet (information access, communication, social networking). They increasingly use smartphones and their wide variety of mobile applications, including tools for recognizing colors, bank notes, objects.
