My digital artifact is based on our group’s theme of educational VR. My focus is on how visually impaired individuals can use VR technology to experience classroom settings. The COVID-19 pandemic in recent years has significantly impacted everyone’s safety and health. Most schools worldwide adopted online teaching, and afterwards, schools recognized the unique advantages of online education. VR technology has provided students with unprecedented learning experiences. Through immersive interactive environments, students can explore historical sites, conduct virtual scientific experiments, and understand complex concepts in entirely new ways.However, we must acknowledge that while VR technology has benefited many students, it has also presented new challenges for visually impaired students. As of the end of 2021, it is estimated that over 2 billion people have near or distant vision impairments(Șipoș et al. 2022). Vision loss is associated with low income, reduced quality of life, concurrent medical issues, and mental health problems(Șipoș et al. 2022). Visually impaired individuals are not only affected medically but also economically and psychologically.Therefore, developing a VR system suitable for visually impaired students has become an urgent need for social innovation and technological advancement.
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to address global challenges such as poverty, inequality, climate change, and the quality of education(Ferguson et al. 2018). Goal 4 focuses on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all(Ferguson et al. 2018). This goal emphasizes not only the universal accessibility and fairness of education but also the necessity to meet the specific needs of individuals, including the rights of people with disabilities. Developing a VR system tailored for visually impaired students is a crucial step towards achieving SDG 4. This initiative not only enhances the quality of education for visually impaired students but also provides them with equal opportunities for participation and development. The realization of such technology is not merely a representation of technological advancement but also a reflection of social equity and humanitarian care.
Today, the rapid advancement of technology has led to the widespread application of VR technology in education. However, visually impaired individuals face numerous challenges in education. They cannot access a large amount of information visually like their sighted peers, thus being excluded from the benefits of VR technology. This exacerbates the educational inequality faced by visually impaired individuals and limits their personal development and social participation. To ensure that VR technology truly benefits all students and provides equal educational resources for visually impaired and sighted students alike, scientists and engineers should be dedicated to developing VR systems that can be used by visually impaired students.
To provide visually impaired students with the same experience in educational VR as their sighted peers, it is necessary for visually impaired students to use brain neurons to replace the function of the eyes for image recognition. Research indicates that current technology utilizes cameras and vibration belts that provide navigational information to create vision-based systems for the blind (Valvo et al. 2021). Additionally, DCNN technology is used for image or object recognition and can successfully identify the surrounding environment. These neural networks, known as Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), can automatically extract features that represent different images or objects (Valvo et al. 2021). With the advancements in current and future technologies, visually impaired students will be able to obtain visual experiences in educational VR through brain neurons.
Beyond visual technology, tactile technology is also a crucial component for providing visually impaired students with a quality educational experience. Studies have shown that current technology allows visually impaired individuals to perceive the tactile properties of objects through tactile stimulation, such as mechanical vibrations (Valvo et al. 2021). However, I hope that future technological advancements will enable visually impaired students to perceive the shape, texture, and temperature of virtual objects through touch. Such a system can help visually impaired students better understand the physical properties of the virtual environment. For example, in geography classes, advanced tactile systems could allow visually impaired students to feel various terrains and landscapes that are difficult to understand in real life.
Furthermore, one of the most important aspects of VR technology for visually impaired students is the voice control system and scene description. Since visually impaired students cannot fully use their vision like their sighted peers, educational VR for visually impaired students needs a dedicated voice control system. By using voice recognition and natural language processing technologies, visually impaired students can control the VR system and interact with the virtual environment through voice commands. Additionally, the system can provide real-time descriptions of the surroundings and ongoing events, giving visually impaired students an immersive experience. For example, in history classes, the system can describe the historical environment through voice, allowing students to feel the atmosphere of historical events.
Developing VR systems tailored for visually impaired students can significantly enhance their educational quality and bring profound economic and cultural impacts to society. Research has shown that education is the cornerstone of economic development, with a society’s economic prosperity closely tied to the quality of its education system (Martin et al. 2023). By improving the educational level of visually impaired students, their skills and knowledge are elevated, transforming them into highly qualified professionals. As a result, these students can work more efficiently, thereby boosting overall economic productivity. The emergence of more skilled labor will enhance corporate innovation capabilities and competitiveness, fostering economic growth. Moreover, improving the educational level of visually impaired students can reduce their dependency on social welfare, alleviating the social burden. Consequently, by enhancing their education, visually impaired students can better participate in socio-economic activities, contributing to societal economic development.
Beyond economic impact, developing VR systems for visually impaired students can also elevate cultural aspects. Inclusive VR technology enables more people to understand and empathize with the needs and challenges of visually impaired groups. This increased understanding and empathy will enhance societal attention and support for the visually impaired, promoting social harmony. Through inclusive education, visually impaired students can access the same educational resources and opportunities as their sighted peers. This will boost their confidence and happiness, making them more self-reliant and confident in society. Simultaneously, the social status and respect for visually impaired individuals will rise accordingly. Thus, I hope that through such technological innovations, humanity can collectively build a fairer and more inclusive society where everyone can equally enjoy the benefits brought by technology.
In the future of education, VR technology will play an increasingly important role. To achieve United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4, which ensures inclusive and equitable quality education, developing VR systems suitable for visually impaired students is an indispensable step. This is not only a representation of technological advancement but also a hallmark of social progress.Governments and all of humanity need to promote social innovation so that every child can thrive in a fair environment and realise their potential. By doing so, not only will the quality of education for visually impaired students be enhanced, but a more inclusive and just future will be created for society as a whole. Social innovation is not only reflected in technological breakthroughs, but also in its far-reaching impact on human well-being.
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