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Envision speaker: Brain plasticity can be used in sight recovery technologies
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The keynote speaker at the multidisciplinary Envision Conference in Wichita, Kansas, addressed how individuals who are blind come to understand the language and concepts of the sighted world and, ultimately, learn to navigate through it fluently.
Ione Fine, PhD, a professor of psychology at the University of Washington in Seattle and an expert in brain plasticity and sight recovery technology, discussed brain plasticity and the extent to which it might eventually be harnessed to interpret the information provided by sight-recovery technologies, according to a press release from Envision.
Envision also presented two peer-nominated awards.
The Envision Oculus Award went to Gary Asano, OD, FAAO, who focuses on low vision rehabilitation at Kaiser Permanente in Los Angeles. The award recognizes a career or program centered around professional collaboration, advocacy, research or education that has had a significant national or international impact on people who are blind or visually impaired.
The Award in Low Vision Research was given to Walter Wittich, PhD, FAAO, CLVT, an assistant professor at the School of Optometry, Université de Montréal. This award is based on research by a scientist having 6 or more years post-terminal or professional degree research.
The conference offers more than 90 hours of clinical education and research sessions pertaining to low vision.
In conjunction with the conference, Aira navigation technology was set up at the Hyatt Regency Wichita and around downtown Wichita. Aira connects people who are blind or who have low vision to trained professional agents via smart glasses or cell phone cameras.
The agents narrate what is in users' fields of vision, assisting them with navigation and performing certain tasks.
Through a partnership between Envision and Wichita’s Eisenhower National Airport, free access to Aira’s vision assistance service will be available to Aira users throughout the airport’s terminal complex, according to the release.