Second Life for the blind

December 10, 2007

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Students at IBM in Ireland have designed an audio equivalent of the virtual world Second Life using 3D sound to create a sense of space. When the user enters the virtual world, the items are described as well as their positions. There is also sound attached so for example, if there’s a tree nearby the user will hear a rustling of leaves. Each avatar will have a sonar attached to give them an idea of the environment they’re in, and they will be able to communicate with other members through a technology that uses text to speech software that reads out any chat from fellow avatars in the virtual world that appears in a text box.

Posted by Jamie Coomber | Filed Under Blog, Community, Internet, Social network  | Post a comment

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