Improving orientation and mobility skills through virtual environments for people who are blind

This chapter describes and examines 21 virtual environments developed specifically to support people who are blind in collecting spatial information before arrival at a new location and to help people who are newly blind practice orientation and mobility skills during rehabilitation. The paper highlights weaknesses and strengths of virtual environments that have been developed in the past 15 years as orientation and mobility aids for people who are blind. These results have potential to influence future research and development of a new orientation and mobility aid that could enhance navigation abilities.