Scientific

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Resilience and flexibility in the human brain: evidence from cognitive neuroscience studies of blindness

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Abstract: Flexibility is of the remarkable properties of the human brain. I will describe research on how the human brain does and does not change in response to blindness. On the one hand, meaning representations of people who are blind are very similar to those of people who are sighted. Contrary to the suppositions of empiricist philosophers and some early educational theorist, people who are born blind have cognitive knowledge of color, light, and visual perception that is in many ways similar to that of sighted people. On the other hand, parts of cortex that are believed to have evolved for visual perception change dramatically in response to blindness. I will present evidence for the idea that visual cortices of people blind from birth take on higher-cognitive functions, including language, numerical processing and executive control. This dramatic reorganization occurs during childhood and appears to follow a critical period. Studies of blindness illustrate how the human brain combines flexibility and resilience. https://pbs.jhu.edu/directory/marina-bedny/

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An Overview of Accessibility Projects from the Miele Lab

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Abstract: This informal discussion will provide a high-level overview of projects I’ve undertaken since my start at S-K as an RERC intern in 1998. Topics will include successful technology transfer projects, strategic partnerships with outside organizations, insights on accessibility themes and techniques, and plans for the future. Please bring your questions and observations for a stimulating conversation about Miele-style accessibility and vision rehabilitation. https://yua.jul.mybluehost.me/users/joshua-miele

Sensory substitution as a framework to access visual and spatial information for the blind and visually impaired

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Abstract: Despite the progress on assistive technologies for the visually impaired, numerous sources of information remain difficult to access without vision. Most of the existing solutions for visually impaired people rely on language to convey information, whether it is through an auditory (text-to-speech synthesis) or tactile (braille) medium. However, those solutions often fall short when the information to provide is highly dynamic or difficult to efficiently convey through language (e.g. spatial or image-based information). The Sensory Substitution framework provides a means to overcome those limitations by providing said information through low-level sensory stimulation which can be, after some training, processed and interpreted quickly, with very little attentional resources. However, a lot of questions on this particular type of human-machine communication still remain open. During this talk, I will present the projects I have been working on during the first 2 years of my Ph.D., in the context of sensory-substitution-based assistive devices, both on the accessibility of image-based content and on the autonomous navigation of visually impaired people.

Ethics Seminar on Peer Review and Research Collaboration

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Abstract: This is part of our ongoing Ethics Seminar series and it is required that all fellows and their mentors attend. The Ethics Seminar is from 12 noon to 1:30 pm on Wednesday, Dec 5, 2018 in the Main Conference Room 204. Natela and I will be presenting. Please take a look at the materials attached and come prepared to discuss the material. Lunch will be served

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Object-based and multi-frame motion information predict human eye movement patterns during video viewing

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Abstract: Compared to low-level saliency, higher-level information better predicts human eye movement in static images. In the current study, we tested how both types of information predict eye movements while observers view videos. We generated multiple eye movement prediction maps based on low-level saliency features, as well as higher-level information that requires cognition, and therefore cannot be interpreted with only bottom-up processes. We investigated eye movement patterns to both static and dynamic features that contained either low- or higher-level information. We found that higher-level object-based and multi-frame motion information better predict human eye movement patterns than static saliency and two-frame motion information, that higher-level static and dynamic features provide equally good predictions. The results suggest that object-based processes and temporal integration of multiple video frames are essential to guide human eye movements during video viewing.    

An informal Colloquium:

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Teachers of The Visually Impaired (TVI) from the Blind Babies Foundation (BBF) will be visiting us this Thursday, November 15, 2018.   This is an opportunity to engage in an informal “around the table” discussion with Dr Pam Chapin, Head of BBF and colleagues.   Please do take time to look at their website where you will find that they provide services to babies, young children, and also to adults.   https://www.wayfinderfamily.org/program/blind-babies-foundation   Here are a few topics that Dr. Chapin and colleagues will discuss:     ·         What exactly they do at BBF ·         What the significant challenges facing children, their parents/caregivers are ·         TVI in vision rehabilitation of visually impaired children ·         What they hope research would focus on and finally how they might work with us.   You will have an opportunity to listen and ask questions to enlighten your knowledge on vision impairment in children and the services they provide to the adult visually impaired.   Pam Chapin and about 10 colleagues will visit SK from 10:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.   Everyone is welcome and lunch will be provided.