Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center

Collage of RERC staff mebers and RERC projects

Contact Information:


Email: coughlan@ski.org
Office Phone: (415) 345-2146

2318 Fillmore Street
San Francisco, CA 94115

The Center’s research goal is to develop and apply new scientific knowledge and practical, cost-effective devices to better understand and address the real-world problems of blind, visually impaired, and deaf-blind consumers. The RERC has many ongoing R&D projects and collaborative relationships, both internal and external to Smith-Kettlewell. Primary funding for the RERC comes from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, with other important sources of support, including the National Eye Institute, and The Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute.

Please check out the latest news about the RERC on Twitter.

Publications

A cartoon of two individuals walking along a street with thought bubbles imagining a fall and an ambulance for one and consternation about foot placement in the other.

Shanidze, N.M., Agathos, C.P., Ellmers, T.J., & Young, W.R., (2026). Links Between Central Visual Field Loss and Movement Processing during Walking. Gait & Posture, 110095. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2026.110095

diagram of a head rotation that does not produce an eye counterrotation and instead the eyes are rotated to a new target by the head

Shanidze, M. N. & Velisar, A. (2025). Cancellation of the Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex during Smooth Pursuit in Patients with Maculopathy. Frontiers in Neurology, 16, 1632527.

Schematic showing a graph with shaded areas around modes and edges indicating possible navigation areas. The current intermediate target is a node enclosed in a circle.

S. Mascetti, Dr. Ahmetovic, G. Galimberti and J. Coughlan. “NavGraph: Enhancing Blind Travelers’ Navigation Experience and Safety.” Proc. ACM on Interactive, Mobile, Wearable and Ubiquitous Technologies (IMWUT), Volume 9, Issue 3, Article No.: 117, Pages 1 – 27. 2025.

Health professional helping an older adult fill out information on a clipboard

Agathos, C.P, Shanidze, N.M., Fletcher, D.C. (2025). Importance of screening for contrast sensitivity, falls and mobility limitations in older adults with maculopathy. American Journal of Ophthalmology. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajo.2025.08.051

Biggs, B. ., Coughlan, J. ., & Walker, B. (2025). Systematically Evaluating Digital Map Tools Based on the WCAG. Journal on Technology and Persons With Disabilities, 13.

Manzoni, M. ., Mascetti, S. ., Ahmetovic, D. ., Crabb, R. ., & Coughlan, J. . (2025). MapIO: a Gestural and Conversational Interface for Tactile Maps. IEEE Access.

García-Lázaro, H. G., & Teng, S. . (2025). Novel Stimuli to Benchmark and Train Echolocation Skills. The Journal on Technology & Persons With Disabilities, 13. 20.500.12680/b2774511d (Original work published 2025)

Biggs, B. ., Agbaroji, H. ., Toth, C. ., Stockman, T. ., Coughlan, J. ., & Walker, B. . (2024). Co-Designing Auditory Navigation Solutions for Traveling as a Blind Individual During The COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Blindness Innovation and Research, 14(1). (Original work published 2024)

Teng, S. ., Danforth, C. ., Paternoster, N. ., Ezeana, M. ., & Puri, A. . (2024). Object recognition via echoes: Quantifying the crossmodal transfer of three-dimensional shape information between echolocation, vision, and haptics. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 18. 10.3389/fnins.2024.1288635 (Original work published 2024)

Agathos, C. P., Velisar, A. ., & Shanidze, N. . (2023). A Comparison of Walking Behavior during the Instrumented TUG and Habitual Gait. Sensors, 23(16). 10.3390/s23167261 (Original work published 2023)

Hong, J. ., & Coughlan, J. . (2023). VR Training to Facilitate Blind Photography for Navigation. Journal On Technology And Persons With Disabilities. (Original work published 2023)

Pitcher-Cooper, C. ., Seth, M. ., Kao, B. ., Coughlan, J. ., & Yoon, I. . (2023). You Described, We Archived: A Rich Audio Description Dataset. Journal on Technology and Persons With Disabilities, 11. (Original work published 2023)

Dixon, A., Martinez, J., Mukhtar, A., Pettingill, M., Teng, S., & Puri, A. (2025). Echoic-haptic object recognition: The role of object properties in human active echolocation. Arkansas INBRE 2025, Fayetteville, AR, United States.

Overview of Robin, a wearable echolocation device designed to aid navigation and perception for people who are blind or have low vision. A mannequin wears the headset, which emits ultrasound pulses toward a chair, records the reflected echoes, and slows them down for playback in audible frequencies. A web app lets users customize the signal parameters.

Bhattacharyya, P., Tam, R., Reynolds, I., Orsmond, P., & Teng, S. (2025). Optimizing Signal Parameters to Enhance Echoacoustic Perception in Humans. Durham, UK.

García-Lázaro, H. G., & Teng, S. . (2025). Auditory masking release indexes human click-based echolocation performance. Boston, MA.

Krasovskaya, S. ., Coughlan, J. ., Patel, A. ., & Teng, S. . (2025). Modeling target search in blind echolocators using a Kalman Filter with realistic exploratory behavior simulations. Boston, MA.

Bhattacharyya, P. ., Reynolds, I. ., Tam, R. ., Jackson, K. ., & Teng, S. . (2024). Optimizing signal parameters to enhance echoacoustic perception of objects in humans. Berkeley, CA.

García-Lázaro, H. G., Bhattacharyya, P. ., Chao, B. ., & Teng, S. . (2024). Perceptual mechanisms underlying human click-based echolocation. St. Pete Beach, Florida, USA.

Patel, A. ., Fusco, G. ., & Teng, S. . (2024). Sensorimotor dynamics of echoacoustic target acquisition in blind humans. St. Pete Beach, Florida, USA.

Teng, S. . (2024). Acoustic glimpses: The accumulation of perceptual information in blind echolocators. St. Pete Beach, Florida, USA.

Biggs, B. ., Toth, C. ., Stockman, T. ., Tupy, S. ., Coughlan, J. ., & Walker, B. N. (2022). Audiom: an Auditory Web-Based Geographic Map Viewer Showing COVID-19 State Data and a Travel Map. (Original work published 2022)

García-Lázaro, H. G., Alwis, Y. ., & Teng, S. . (2021). Neural representations of temporal and spectral regularities of reverberant environments. Chicago/ Virtual: 50th Society of Neuroscience Annual Meeting. (Original work published 2021)

Wong, M. ., Ghahghaei, S. ., Chandna, A. ., & Kulkarni, A. . (2021). Scalable non-invasive pediatric cerebral visual impairment screening with the higher visual function question inventory (HVFQI). (Original work published 2021)

García-Lázaro, H. G., Wong-Kee-You, A. M. B., Alwis, Y. ., & Teng, S. . (2021). Visual experience modulates sensitivity to statistics of reverberation. Virtual: Vision Sciences Society Annual Meeting. (Original work published 2021)

Hand pointing to the wing of an airplane shown in a tactile graphic. The hand skeleton detected by computer vision is shown in green.

Ahmetovic, D., Coughlan, J., Dal Santo, G., Ezrouri, K., Manzoni, M., & Mascetti, S. (2025). CamIO in the Browser: A Cross-Platform Audio Label Tool for Tactile Graphics.

Scott, A. ., Narins, L. ., Kulkarni, A. ., Castanon, M. ., Kao, B. ., Ihorn, S. ., … Yoon, I. . (2023). Improved Image Caption Rating – Datasets, Game, and Model. 2023 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. Presented at the 2023 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. Hamburg, Germany: Association for Computing Machinery. 10.1145/3544549.3585632 (Original work published 2023)

Biggs, B. ., Toth, C. ., Stockman, T. ., Coughlan, J. ., & Walker, B. N. (2022). Evaluation of a Non-Visual Auditory Choropleth and Travel Map Viewer. International Conference on Auditory Display (ICAD) 2022. Presented at the International Conference on Auditory Display (ICAD) 2022. Virtual. Retrieved from PMCID: PMC10010675 (Original work published 2022)

Coughlan, J. ., Biggs, B. ., & Shen, H. . (2021). Point and Listen: Bringing a 3D Map to Life with Audio-Based AR. 6th Annual Frameless XR Symposium. Presented at the 6th Annual Frameless XR Symposium. (Original work published 2021)

Goolsby, B. ., Kim, H. W., Pawluk, D. ., & Fusco, G. . (2021). A Tangible Block Editor for the Scratch Programming Language. CHI 2021. Presented at the CHI 2021. Yokohama, Japan: ACM. (Original work published 2021)

Teng, S. ., & Fusco, G. . (2019). Modeling echo-target acquisition in blind humans. Conference on Cognitive Computational Neuroscience. Presented at the Conference on Cognitive Computational Neuroscience. Berlin, Germany: Conference on Cognitive Computational Neuroscience. (Original work published 2019)

Biggs, B. ., Coughlan, J. ., & Coppin, P. . (2019). Design and Evaluation of an Audio Game-Inspired Auditory Map Interface. The 25th International Conference on Auditory Display (ICAD 2019). Presented at the The 25th International Conference on Auditory Display (ICAD 2019). Northumbria University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK. (Original work published 2019)

Fusco, G. ., & Morash, V. S. (2015). The Tactile Graphics Helper: Providing Audio Clarification for Tactile Graphics Using Machine Vision. ASSETS. Presented at the ASSETS. (Original work published 2015)

Fusco, G. ., Tekin, E. ., Ladner, R. E., & Coughlan, J. . (2014). Using Computer Vision to Access Appliance Displays. ASSETS. Presented at the ASSETS. (Original work published 2014)

Ivanchenko, V. ., Coughlan, J. ., & Shen, H. . (2010). Real-time walk light detection with a mobile phone. Computers Helping People With Special Needs, 229–234. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. (Original work published 2010)

Ivanchenko, V. ., Coughlan, J. ., & Shen, H. . (2008). Detecting and locating crosswalks using a camera phone. Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition Workshops, 2008. CVPRW’08. IEEE Computer Society Conference on, 1–8. IEEE. (Original work published 2008)

Brabyn, J. . (1995). Orientation and Navigation Systems for the Blind: An Overview of Different Approaches. International Conference As Navigation Technology for the Blind. Presented at the International Conference as Navigation Technology for the Blind. U.K.: Royal National Institute for the Blind. (Original work published 1995)

Zaman, N., Potluri, V., Biggs, B., & Coughlan, M. J. (2025). WhatsAI: Transforming Meta Ray-Bans into an Extensible Generative AI Platform for Accessibility. arXiv preprint arXiv:2505.09823.

diagram if the cameras directed at robotic eyes with labels of individual components and placement in 3D space

Shanidze, M. N., Velisar, A., Lotze, A. W., & Love, K. K. (2025). Oculomotor simulator for assessing eye-tracking accuracy. US Patent 12,474,771

Biggs, B. ., Siu, A. F., Aziz, N. ., & Stockman, T. . (2022). Remote Co-Design in the Digital Age. In Handbook of Disability. (Original work published 2022)

Pitcher-Cooper, C. ., & Brabyn, J. . (2021). The Unstoppable Utility of YouDescribe. Wireless RERC 2021 State of Technology Forum Proceedings. (Original work published 2021)

Shen, H. ., & Coughlan, J. . (2012). Towards a real-time system for finding and reading signs for visually impaired users. In Computers Helping People with Special Needs (pp. 41–47). Springer Berlin Heidelberg. (Original work published 2012)

Brabyn, J. . (2010). Sensory Rehabilitation. In Sage Encyclopedia of Perception (pp. 881-883). Thousand Oaks, CA: Goldstein, B. (Ed) Sage Publications. (Original work published 2010)

Brabyn, J. . (2010). Assistive Technologies for the Blind. In Sage Encyclopedia of Perception (pp. 64-67). Thousand Oaks, CA: Goldstein, B. (Ed.) Sage Publications. (Original work published 2010)

Brabyn, J. . (2008). Vision. In Lange, M (Ed.) Fundamentals in Assistive Technology: An Introduction in Assistiave Technology Implementation in the Lives of People with Disabilities (4th ed., pp. 293-311). Arlington, VA: Resna Press. (Original work published 2008)

Brabyn, J. . (2008). Vision. In Lange, M (Ed.) Fundamentals in Assistive Technology: An Introduction in Assistiave Technology Implementation in the Lives of People with Disabilities (4th ed., pp. 293-311). Arlington, VA: Resna Press. (Original work published 2008)

Brabyn, J. ., Seelman, K. ., & Panchang, S. . (2007). Aids for people who are blind or visually impaired. In Cooper, RA, Ohnabe H, Hobson D, (Eds.) An Introduction to Rehabilitation Engineering (pp. 287-313). New York: Taylor & Francis. (Original work published 2007)

Arditi, A. ., & Brabyn, J. . (2000). Signage and wayfinding. In Silverstone, Lang, Rosenthal & Faye (Eds), The Lighthouse Handbook on Visual Impairment and Vision Rehabilitation (Vol. 1–2). New York: Oxford University Press. (Original work published 2000)

Heller, M. ., & Brabyn, J. . Visual Impairment: Ergonomic Considerations in Blind and Low Vision Rehabilitation. In Kumar, S. (Ed.), Perspectives in Rehabilitation Ergonomics (Vol. 1). London: Taylor & Francis. (Original work published 1997)

Projects

  • Active
  • Other
  • Completed
  • Inactive
Data science logo showing schematic of bar plot, audio interface and AI assistant
Active

Empowering Data Vision: A Self-Paced Introduction to the Convergence of AI and Data Science

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Active

Audiom Map of Smith-Kettlewell

An Audiom map of the main Smith-Kettlewell building at 2318 Fillmore St., San Francisco has been created by Brandon Biggs. This is an audio-visual map that allows users to explore a detailed map of the building with or without vision. The map runs in any browser and is available to anyone who visits the building.
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Active

MapIO: a Gestural and Conversational Interface for Tactile Maps

For individuals who are blind or have low vision, tactile maps provide essential spatial information but are limited in the amount of data they can convey. Digitally augmented tactile maps enhance these capabilities with audio feedback, thereby combining the tactile feedback provided by the map with an audio description of the touched elements. In this context, we explore an embodied interaction paradigm to augment tactile maps with conversational interaction based on Large Language Models, thus enabling users to obtain answers to arbitrary questions regarding the map. We analyze the type of…
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Person with visual impairment using a walk light detector app at a traffic intersection. Left photo shows user holding smartphone, right photo shows image acquired by app of traffic intersection including walk light.
Active

Using VR to Help Train Visually Impaired Users to Aim a Camera

People with visual impairments increasingly rely on camera-enabled smartphone apps for tasks like photography, navigation, and text recognition. Despite the growing use of these applications, precise camera aiming remains a significant challenge. This project explores the impact of virtual reality (VR) exploration in the context of learning to use a camera-based app. So far we have studied this approach in the context of training a visually impaired person to use walk-light detector app at traffic intersections.
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motion capture line representations of the segments of a standing person
Active

Mobility and Fall Risk in Central Visual Field Loss

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of vision loss in the developed world. Central visual field loss due to diseases such as AMD is a large and growing problem. It is also associated with higher risk of falls and, therefore injury. Although much has been done to understand visual limitations associated with this condition, one of its most dangerous and poorly understood outcomes is the increase in the risk of falls, which can be debilitating and even deadly, especially in the age group most affected by AMD. The exact reasons for the increased fall risk are unknown…
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Close-up photo showing person pointing right index finger to Ireland on a map of the British Isles with other fingers closed.
Active

CamIO Hands

This project builds on the CamIO project to provide point-and-tap interactions allowing a user to acquire detailed information about tactile graphics and 3D models. The interface uses an iPhone’s depth and color cameras to track the user’s hands while they interact with a model. When the user points to a feature of interest on the model with their index finger, the system reads aloud basic information about that feature. For additional information, the user lifts their index finger and taps the feature again. This process can be repeated multiple times to access additional levels of…
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Two printed yellow triangles. The angles are removable and can be placed in a 180 deg half circle.
Active

The 3 Ps of 3D: Perception, Pedagogy, and Practice for 3D Printing

3D printing is increasingly used in STEM education. How can it be made usable by students who are blind or visually impaired?
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Image of an audio map
Active

Audiom

Audiom is a tool that allows blind and visually impaired individuals to view maps completely in audio. It is a web component and can be embedded into any webpage, similar to Google Maps. It allows non-visual use of route, landmark, and survey knowledge, which is the critical information needed for navigation.
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diagram of eyes tracking target and scotoma result
Active

Tracking a target in depth with central field loss

Bilateral field loss due to maculopathy creates a scotoma that extends in depth — a volume scotoma. Morevoer the size of the scotoma depends on whether observers turn their eyes to track a target as it comes closer. This project investigates how the volume scotoma affects the ability to track oncoming targets in these individuals, and in controls with a simulated volume scotoma.
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Visual Functions in CVI Application
Active

Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI): An in-depth study of visual functioning in everyday life

The purpose of this research study is to learn about how cerebral visual impairment affects everyday visually guided behaviours and determine interventions to treat the difficulties. This study is conducted remotely through telephone or video link and also in person at the laboratory.
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Graphic showing STEM icons including a chemistry beaker, atom with electron orbits, and a mathematical square root symbol

Smith-Kettlewell Summer Institute

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Talking Signs
Completed

Talking Signs

Created by William Loughborough in 1979, Talking Lights was a system of infrared transmitters and receivers allowing blind and visually impaired travelers to quickly and easily "read signs" at a distance.
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image of headphones encompassing virus, bar graph and caduceus icons
Completed

A11Y COVID-19

COVID-19 pandemic data for screen reader users are available at covid.ski.org
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t-scratch schematic
Completed

t-Scratch: Tangible Programming Environment

tScratch: Tangible Programming Environment Targeted for Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired Introductory programming languages are overwhelmingly designed with sighted students in mind. Our goal is to expand and enhance scratch (https://scratch.mit.edu/ ), a block-based visual programming language and online community targeted primarily at children with Universal Design for Learning (UDL) concepts. The addition of tactile programming tiles, a specialized haptic coding grid, and an auditory interface will provide beginning programming instruction for students either as individual…
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Cover of blue printed book entitled "Haptics Symposium on Blindness & Low Vision" from Smith-Kettlewell
Completed

The Smith-Kettlewell Haptics Symposium

The Smith-Kettlewell Haptics Symposium was held on March 29, 2018 to honor and remember Dr. Val Morash and her research.
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Graphic of lines of braille with finger trace trajectory superimposed over braille
Completed

Regressions in Braille Reading

This project explores regressions (movements to re-read text) in braille reading. The image on the right plots the braille reading finger movements in blue and regressions in black.
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Hands with pen on street map closeup
Completed

Audio/Tactile BART Station Maps

This collaborative project between Smith-Kettlewell and the San Francisco LightHouse applies Smartpen-Based audio/tactile graphics tools to improve orientation and wayfinding by travelers with visual disabilities in and around unfamiliar transit stations.
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Sample indoor sign showing automatic detection in yellow
Completed

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 open source code
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Icon showing a person's finger pointing to a tactile graphic that includes braille text
Completed

Tactile Graphics Helper (TGH)

Tactile graphics use raised lines, textures, and elevations to provide individuals with visual impairments access to graphical materials through touch. Tactile graphics are particularly important for students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, where educational content is often conveyed using diagrams and charts. However, providing a student who has a visual impairment with a tactile graphic does not automatically provide the student access to the graphic's educational content. Instead, the student may struggle to decipher subtle differences between textures or…
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ESTVI '13 logo
Completed

Workshop Series on Computer Vision and Sensor-Enabled Assistive Technology for Visual Impairment

Recent workshop: Workshop on Environmental Sensing Technologies for Visual Impairment (ESTVI '13 in San Francisco) ESTVI '13 focused on emerging technologies capable of sensing environmental features for applications in access technologies for persons with visual impairment, including low vision and blindness. The development of environmental sensing technologies (ESTs) and the study of their potential to support the activities of daily living for visually impaired persons is progressing at a rapid pace, and engages many disparate research fields, including computer vision, wearable sensors…
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Completed

Assessment of Speechreading with Dual Sensory Loss: Visual and Hearing Impairments

The purpose of this research study is to test subjects who have various hearing and vision problems on their lipreading, visual and auditory skills in order to understand the relationships between lipreading and visual impairment. We then can explore training strategies to improve auditory and visual communication.
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Inactive

The Kinematics of Braille Reading

[Under construction] When blind persons read braille, a system of raised dots for tactile reading and writing, how is the information processed? How do a few indentations on the fingerpads translate to linguistic information, and how does the text, in turn, influence the motions of the hands reading it? Our work on braille addresses these processes on several levels.
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audiobook
Inactive

Braille, Assistive Technology, and Reading Comprehension

This project explores the impact of presentation mode (braille vs. audio) and using different assistive technology (i.e., refreshable braille displays and screen reader) on reading comprehension ability. The findings will have direct implications for how to present educational material to enhance comprehension among fluent braille readers.
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Bill Gerrey testing TVSS technology
Inactive

The Smith-Kettlewell Technical File

The Smith-Kettlewell Technical File, edited by William Gerrey (WA6NPC), was a publication by and for blind and visually-impaired electronics professionals and enthusiasts. It was published by the Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute from Fall 1980, through Spring 1998 and was at various times available in Braille, large print, audio cassette, and 5-1/4" floppy diskette. Although The Smith-Kettlewell Technical File is no longer in active publication, we offer this online archive as a resource of both current and historical value. While many of the articles about devices and techniques remain…
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Black and white image of Golden Gate Bridge in fog. Text: Be descriptive, be brief, be part of the solution.
Inactive

Describeathon 2019 Announced!

Join Describeathon 2019! Help make YouTube videos more accessible to blind viewers by adding your voice to this day of description. Use YouDescribe, our free web-based description tool, to describe the visuals of your favorite YouTube videos and have fun doing it!
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overTHERE icon: Globe image with pointing finger
Inactive

overTHERE

overTHERE is a virtual Talking Signs iPhone app for blind and visually-impaired pedestrians that demonstrates a powerful audio/haptic interface to location information about businesses and other points of interest.
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Image of Dr. Miele working with an Arduino board
Inactive

Blind Arduino Project

The Blind Arduino Project grew out of a community effort led by Dr. Miele in late 2015 to better understand barriers faced by blind people wanting to participate in the vibrant global culture of DIY hardware prototyping. Arduino is an inexpensive, open-source electronics platform used by everyone from young hobbyists to high-tech developers to build computerized devices integrating sensors, motors, displays, wireless communications, and a host of other tools. Arduino is used in schools to teach children basic principles of design and computer science, in industry to quickly and inexpensively…
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ivasearch sample 2
Inactive

Functional Assessment – Visual Fields

Most patients are unaware of their visual field defects and scotomata, be it from AMD, from glaucoma, from RP, or from other causes. Dr. Colenbrander developed an improved functional scoring system for visual fields, as part of the Functional Vision Score system (see Guidelines)
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p9142253-2
Inactive

Functional Assessment – Reading

Difficulty reading is the most common complaint of low vision patients. It is the Activity of Daily Living that is most closely related to visual acuity, but involves many additional factors beyond. Print SIZE provides an assessment (visual acuity) of "How the EYE functions". Reading SPEED provides a convenient assessment of “How the PERSON functions.” PDF Reading acuity (2005) The IVA system (see below) contains a module to facilitate reading speed measurements.
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contrast_-_pv2
Inactive

Functional Assessment – Contrast Sensitivity

For eye doctors measuring contrast sensitivity loss during routine eye exams is not a priority, since contrast losses are not disease specific and do not guide treatment decisions. For the patient, on the other hand, knowledge about contrast losses, of which they are usually not consciously aware, is very important, since it may affect the performance of Activities of Daily Living and affect safety in mobility tasks. When visual parameters are measured, the measurements are usually limited to determining peak contrast sensitivity and threshold visual acuity as separate, seamingly independent…
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ama_guides_6th
Inactive

Functional Assessment – Book Chapters

Categorization of visual functioning requires appropriate measurement methods. Dr. Colenbrander has discussed the principles of functional assessment in several book chapters. Measuring Vision and Vision Loss, Vol. 5, chapter 51, in Duane’s Clinical Ophthalmology, (2001, updated and expanded for 2010 edition). Comprehensive overview, 96 pages, 10 MB. PDF Low Vision Rehabilitation, Special issue of: Ophthalmology Clinics of North America, Colenbrander, Fletcher eds., 7, 2, 1994. The Visual System. Chapter 12 in Master the AMA Guides (L. Cocchiarella, S.J…
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Labs

  • Teng Lab
    Teng Lab
    Principal Investigator:
    Participate in our studies! Visit Teng Lab Experiment Participation for details. Welcome to the Cognition, Action, and Neural Dynamics Laboratory We aim to better understand how people perceive, interact with, and...
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  • Eye-Head Movement Laboratory
    Eye-Head Movement Laboratory
    Principal Investigator:
    Our laboratory is interested in how changes in visual and/or vestibular function affect eye/head coordination, balance, and mobility, particularly in aging. We are currently pursuing two main lines of research:...
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  • Coughlan Lab
    Coughlan Lab
    Principal Investigator:
    The goal of our laboratory is to develop and test assistive technology for blind and visually impaired persons that is enabled by computer vision and other sensor technologies.
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  • Verghese Lab
    Verghese Lab
    Principal Investigator:
    Our laboratory studies the mechanisms of healthy vision and action, as well as the basis of attention and visual adaptation in clinical populations.
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People

Fundings

Collaborators

  • Anagha Kulkarni
    Associate Professor
    Developing applications for research and implemtation in clinical practiceCVerebral Visual Impairment; Ocular Growth in Infants and Childhood Cataracts
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  • Bruce Walker
    Professor, Georgia Institute of Technology
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  • Ilmi Yoon, PhD
    Ilmi Yoon, PhD
    Professor
    San Francisco State University
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  • Roberto Manduchi
    Professor
    University of California Santa Cruz
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  • William Young
    Senior Lecturer
    Sport, Exercise & Nutrition Sciences, University of Exeter
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  • Yue-Ting Siu
    Yue-Ting Siu
    CATT-NW Program Coordinator
    Washington State School for the Blind
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  • Sergio Mascetti
    Sergio Mascetti
    Affiliate Scientist
    Department of Computer Science, University of Milan
    Sergio Mascetti is Associate Professor at the Department of Computer Science of the Università degli Studi di Milano where he also received his BSc, […]
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News

Events

  • SKERI Joins the Bay Area Science Festival
    SKERI Joins the Bay Area Science Festival

    Sunday, October 26th, 2025 – 11:00 AM to 4:30 PM

    SKERI Scientists are headed to the Bay Area Science Festival! Come find us at UCSF's Mission Bay Conference Center pub lounge and check out our demos (descriptions below): Point and Listen: Getting Tactile Materials to Talk, Drs James Coughlan and Nasif Zaman Blind individuals often use the sense of touch...
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  • Scaling up accessible tactile maps and 3D models with CamIO
    Scaling up accessible tactile maps and 3D models with CamIO

    Monday, October 27th, 2025 – 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM

    In the US alone, approximately six million people have low vision, of whom about one million are blind. These numbers are growing as the population ages. For the blind and low vision (BLV) population, tactile materials are indispensable for understanding spatial information, such as tactile maps, relief maps, tactile infographics...
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  • Blindness and Low Vision Support Group, Year Recap (Hybrid)
    Blindness and Low Vision Support Group, Year Recap (Hybrid)

    Wednesday, May 20th, 2026 – 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM

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  • Bay Area Outreach and Recreation program (BORP) (Hybrid)
    Bay Area Outreach and Recreation program (BORP) (Hybrid)

    Wednesday, April 15th, 2026 – 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM

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  • Fall Prevention Strategies (Hybrid)
    Fall Prevention Strategies (Hybrid)

    Wednesday, March 18th, 2026 – 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM

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  • Low Vision Month (Hybrid)
    Low Vision Month (Hybrid)

    Wednesday, February 18th, 2026 – 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM

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  • Environmental Traveling Companions (ETC) (Hybrid)
    Environmental Traveling Companions (ETC) (Hybrid)

    Wednesday, January 21st, 2026 – 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM

    Join us for a conversation with Environmental Traveling Companions (ETC), an organization dedicated to creating inclusive outdoor adventures for people with disabilities and people of all backgrounds. ETC offers opportunities to explore the outdoors through programs such as kayaking, rafting, hiking, and camping, with a strong focus on accessibility, community,...
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  • Sterling Adaptives (Hybrid)
    Sterling Adaptives (Hybrid)

    Wednesday, December 17th, 2025 – 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM

    John Taylor will begin by introducing Sterling Adaptives, their mission, and how their specialists support individuals with vision loss. He will walk us through a variety of adaptive technology devices and software, explaining the benefits of each and how they can meet specific needs in daily life. Participants will have...
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  • Learning Tools Feedback and Progress
    Learning Tools Feedback and Progress

    Wednesday, November 19th, 2025 – 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM

    Join us for November’s support group on Zoom for a conversation about the tools, technologies, and daily practices that support independence and well-being.   This month’s meeting: Share your experiences with apps and devices Explore creative ways to use your phone’s camera and accessibility features Reflect on what has been...
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  • Adaptive Technology Services
    Adaptive Technology Services

    Wednesday, October 15th, 2025 – 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM

    Guest Speaker: Silvana Rainey About Silvana: Silvana Rainey is a co-founder of Adaptive Technology Services in San Francisco. For many years, she has worked with people with blindness and low vision, helping them gain access to the tools and training they need to live and work independently. She is passionate...
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If you are interested in vision science or want to learn more about low vision and blindness, there are many opportunities to get involved at The Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute.

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