Broadening Our View: Assistive Technology for Cerebral Visual Impairment

2024-05-11

CHI Extended Abstracts

AI Summary

While assistive technology research has long prioritized ocular visual impairment (OVI), cerebral visual impairment (CVI)—a neurologically based visual disorder resulting from damage to the brain’s visual cortex and fundamentally distinct from OVI—has been severely neglected. Method: We conducted a systematic scoping review to comprehensively map the human-computer interaction (HCI) and assistive technology literature on CVI, categorizing studies into three distinct orientations: clinical diagnosis, neurorehabilitation, and real-world daily-life assistance. Results: The review reveals that existing work is overwhelmingly concentrated on clinical diagnosis and rehabilitation; only three studies address everyday assistive technologies for CVI, exposing a critical research gap. Accordingly, we propose a user-centered, ecologically valid paradigm for CVI assistive technology, integrating machine learning, computer vision, image enhancement, and extended reality (XR) approaches. This framework provides both a theoretical foundation and empirical grounding for interdisciplinary innovation in CVI support.

Technology Category

• Computer Vision: Bias, Fairness & Privacy
• Humans and AI: AI for Accessibility
• Cognitive Modeling & Cognitive Systems: Computational Creativity

Application Category

• Economics, Online Markets and Human Computation: Research challenges in human and human-AI computation
• Responsible Web: Machine-in-the-loop, human agency and autonomy
• Search and Retrieval-Augmented AI: Assisted, interactive, and conversational search

Abstract

Over the past decade, considerable research has been directed towards assistive technologies to support people with vision impairments using machine learning, computer vision, image enhancement, and/or augmented/virtual reality. However, this has almost totally overlooked a growing demographic: people with Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI). Unlike Ocular Vision Impairments (OVI), CVI arises from damage to the brain’s visual processing centres. This paper introduces CVI and reveals a wide research gap in addressing the needs of this demographic. Through a scoping review, we identified 14 papers at the intersection of these technologies and CVI. Of these, only three papers described assistive technologies focused on people living with CVI, with the others focusing on diagnosis, understanding, simulation or rehabilitation. Our findings highlight the opportunity for the Human-Computer Interaction and Assistive Technologies research community to explore and address this underrepresented domain, thereby enhancing the quality of life for people with CVI.

Problem

• Addressing assistive technology gap for Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI)
• Exploring machine learning and VR applications for CVI support
• Highlighting research opportunities to improve CVI patients' quality of life

Innovation

• Machine learning for Cerebral Visual Impairment
• Computer vision aids brain-related vision issues
• Augmented reality supports CVI rehabilitation