Projects

Robotic Oculomotor Simulator

Current eye tracking and calibration algorithms do not accommodate eccentric viewing and the capacity for accurate eye tracking is difficult to assess in individuals with central visual field loss, and few studies of naturalistic oculomotor behavior exist. To address this problem, we are developing a binocular robotic model of the human eyes that can simulate fixation and eye movements with an eccentric preferred retinal locus in one or both eyes and allow for precise assessment of eye tracking performance of head mounted computer vision-based eye tracking systems.

Self-exploration of the Visual Field

Patients with spots of diminished or no vision (scotomas) often do not realize the nature of their deficit. This technique can help patients to heighten their awareness of scotomas.

 

In the process of learning eccentric viewing, several stages have to be passed:

1. Patients use their own hand movements to find the location of best vision in the visual field of one eye, while the other eye is closed and gaze is fixed.

2. Patients use eye movements to adjust gaze so that a target in a stable location looks best.

3. Coordinate eye and hand movements, so that a magnifier can be moved where it is…

Sign Finder

This project seeks to develop a computer vision-based system that allows a visually impaired traveler to find and read informational signs, such as signs labeling office doors, streets, restrooms and Exit signs.

Link to open source code

SKERI-VF

Walker et al (Renninger, Psomadakis, Dang & Fletcher, 2008) suggested a novel method to estimate the monocular scotoma area from perimetry data in macular degeneration based on (i) an optic-disc based estimation of the location of the fovea and (ii) the increase in the receptive field size with eccentricity. Here, Dr Walker and I introduce a new GUI that applies this method to data from the Optos OCT/SLO.

SL-CN: Harnessing the Power of Drawing for the Enhancement of Learning across Levels of Vision Function

This Science of Learning Collaborative Network brings together researchers and experts from the Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute, University of Bamberg (Germany), Columbia University and Emory University to investigate how the visual art of drawing can enhance learning. Underlying learning principles and neural mechanisms will be considered, and how these can be harnessed for real-life learning enhancement. Though humans have been drawing for at least 30,000 years, little is understood about brain processes involved in this activity.

Smith-Kettlewell Summer Institute

The Summer Institute program is a multi-year, learning opportunity designed to provide training for blind and visually impaired students, recent graduates, and early career researchers interested in data skills that will enhance Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) jobs within industry, government, non-profit organizations or academia. 

In today’s research climate, individuals are expected to have many skills at their fingertips. Often researchers are required to build software and hardware environments to run studies, to gather and analyze data and to prepare reports and papers for…

State of the Science Conference On Rehabilitation Technology & Methods For a Changing Population

Date: Friday, December 4, 2015

Location: The Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute, 2318 Fillmore St., San Francisco CA 94115

The goal of this invitation-only conference was to identify needs for future research in rehabilitation technology, methods for the blind and visually impaired population, and those with dual sensory loss.

 

Program:

8:45 - 9:15 Check-in and coffee/pastries

9:15 - 9:25 Welcome

9:25 - 9:45 Keynote: Paul Schroeder (link to YouTube video)

9:45 - 10:45 Panel 1: Changing Populations. How should we change our approach to assessing and addressing visual impairments? (link to YouTube…