In VR, 'The Blind Gamer' Sees Without Glasses For The First Time

[kcarbotte]

Imagine a future where the visually impaired could see clearly thanks to technology. Now what if I told you that we might not be far from that reality? VR technology might be a glimpse at such a future.

In VR, 'The Blind Gamer' Sees Without Glasses For The First Time : Read more

 

[lun471k]

This is such an awesome article. Things like that totally make my day. Imagine what VR (and AR too) can do in the future to visually impaired people !

 

[kcarbotte]

This is such an awesome article. Things like that totally make my day. Imagine what VR (and AR too) can do in the future to visually impaired people !

So glad you thought so. That's exactly how I felt when I stumbled upon Steve's video. I knew I had to share the story.
It actually brightened my day to watch that clip. He's so incredibly happy.

 

[koga73]

It sounds like someone just needs to make "glasses" but LCD screens for the user and a camera on the outside. It doesn't need to be a bulky headset.

 

[WFang]

So maybe someone (official at Tom's) should start a 'go-fundme' type thing and get the guy a gaming rig with Vive?

 

[LanzoCommando]

So maybe someone (official at Tom's) should start a 'go-fundme' type thing and get the guy a gaming rig with Vive?

I thought the same thing! Great story!

 

[JamesSneed]

Thanks for posting this it was really nice to watch. Made me think they now need to make some type of calibration for people that don't have 20/20 to start choosing what text looks best kind of thing until its calibrated for your eyes.

 

[kcarbotte]

It sounds like someone just needs to make "glasses" but LCD screens for the user and a camera on the outside. It doesn't need to be a bulky headset.

That's pretty much what I was suggesting.
It's just a matter of time.

 

[kcarbotte]

Thanks for posting this it was really nice to watch. Made me think they now need to make some type of calibration for people that don't have 20/20 to start choosing what text looks best kind of thing until its calibrated for your eyes.

Saylor and I discussed this idea.
When HMDs get eye tracking systems, these types of things will become a reality.

 

[CylonRaider]

I don't consider his vision to be that bad. I am a legally blind artist as well. Airbrush illustrator, computer graphic and 3d artist. I read with a magnifying glass. My artwork published without anyone knowing about my vision. My vision is 20/2100 in my good eye and 20/2400 in my bad eye. I have scar tissue on my optic nerves and Nystagmus in both eyes. I'm not too bad of a gamer on a large monitor. The large monitor is great for zooming in to get high detail in my artwork. I'm looking forward to see if this really works. I don't see how it can with my eyes jumping around the way they. How this could work? How could this possible track my eyes for targeting. I have been thinking, I would have to miss out on the whole VR thing. I hope this story is ture and not just some positive fluff.

 

[kcarbotte]

I don't consider his vision to be that bad. I am a legally blind artist as well. Airbrush illustrator, computer graphic and 3d artist. I read with a magnifying glass. My artwork published without anyone knowing about my vision. My vision is 20/2100 in my good eye and 20/2400 in my bad eye. I have scar tissue on my optic nerves and Nystagmus in both eyes. I'm not too bad of a gamer on a large monitor. The large monitor is great for zooming in to get high detail in my artwork. I'm looking forward to see if this really works. I don't see how it can with my eyes jumping around the way they. How this could work? How could this possible track my eyes for targeting. I have been thinking, I would have to miss out on the whole VR thing. I hope this story is ture and not just some positive fluff.

Steve said he tried to look up his vision and the best he can tell, his is rated at 20/14000 without his corrective lenses.

He put out a video FAQ about himself, in which he shows how quickly his eyes move side to side. I'm no expert, but it looks pretty serious. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUMIsNLkg9I

The blind gamer has no affiliation with TH. I came accross his video and reached out to him to learn more.
I'm pretty confident he's not being disingenuous.
Watch the video at the bottom of the story to see his reaction.

 

[CylonRaider]

I don't consider his vision to be that bad. I am a legally blind artist as well. Airbrush illustrator, computer graphic and 3d artist. I read with a magnifying glass. My artwork published without anyone knowing about my vision. My vision is 20/2100 in my good eye and 20/2400 in my bad eye. I have scar tissue on my optic nerves and Nystagmus in both eyes. I'm not too bad of a gamer on a large monitor. The large monitor is great for zooming in to get high detail in my artwork. I'm looking forward to see if this really works. I don't see how it can with my eyes jumping around the way they. How this could work? How could this possible track my eyes for targeting. I have been thinking, I would have to miss out on the whole VR thing. I hope this story is ture and not just some positive fluff.

Steve said he tried to look up his vision and the best he can tell, his is rated at 20/14000 without his corrective lenses.

He put out a video FAQ about himself, in which he shows how quickly his eyes move side to side. I'm no expert, but it looks pretty serious. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUMIsNLkg9I

The blind gamer has no affiliation with TH. I came accross his video and reached out to him to learn more.
I'm pretty confident he's not being disingenuous.
Watch the video at the bottom of the story to see his reaction.

I would be very happy if this works. Like him I am better off reading and looking close. It may be an improvement just because the closer things are the better I can focus on them. Something I haven't considered. Not thinking to much about the eye tracking. I'm going to start following VR and have a higher interest thanks to your story and your reply.

 

[kcarbotte]

I don't consider his vision to be that bad. I am a legally blind artist as well. Airbrush illustrator, computer graphic and 3d artist. I read with a magnifying glass. My artwork published without anyone knowing about my vision. My vision is 20/2100 in my good eye and 20/2400 in my bad eye. I have scar tissue on my optic nerves and Nystagmus in both eyes. I'm not too bad of a gamer on a large monitor. The large monitor is great for zooming in to get high detail in my artwork. I'm looking forward to see if this really works. I don't see how it can with my eyes jumping around the way they. How this could work? How could this possible track my eyes for targeting. I have been thinking, I would have to miss out on the whole VR thing. I hope this story is ture and not just some positive fluff.

Steve said he tried to look up his vision and the best he can tell, his is rated at 20/14000 without his corrective lenses.

He put out a video FAQ about himself, in which he shows how quickly his eyes move side to side. I'm no expert, but it looks pretty serious. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUMIsNLkg9I

The blind gamer has no affiliation with TH. I came accross his video and reached out to him to learn more.
I'm pretty confident he's not being disingenuous.
Watch the video at the bottom of the story to see his reaction.

I would be very happy if this works. Like him I am better off reading and looking close. It may be an improvement just because the closer things are the better I can focus on them. Something I haven't considered. Not thinking to much about the eye tracking. I'm going to start following VR and have a higher interest thanks to your story and your reply.

This response makes me so happy that I decided to pursue this story. 😀 I was hoping this would reach someone else who might have a similar eye problem as Steve.

I encourage you to seek out a VR demo if you can. There are many on-site locations where you can try out VR hardware, such as the Microsoft Store and Best Buy.
There are also many VR arcades popping up all around the country and the world. If you don't have a VR arcade in your city, chances are good that you will in the next 6 to 12 months.

I hope it works for you!