A. Brief Description: A world congress held in 2005 identified the leading researchers in the emerging field of wayfinding technology.This book is an overview of these emerging technologies as they apply to blind and visually impaired individuals. Chapters are written by experts and inventors. The book is sponsored by the Institute for Innovative Blind Navigation (IIBN), World Access for the Blind, and the NEC Foundation of America. The book is divided into three sections: Smart Environments (spaces); Robotics and Autonomous Vehicles; and Wearable Computers (cyborg applications). In many ways, the book is as much about the future as it is about current technologies.

The profession of orientation and mobility is undergoing dramatic change. There is also an emerging sub-discipline coming from the occupational therapy profession. There may be a merging of these two professional organizations centered around human navigation. This book will serve as an outline for moving into the future; it will have significant influence over how we will train blind and visually impaired individuals going forward, with special importance for training blind children.

B. Outstanding Features: There are three:

1. The use of technology to train blind children to see using alternative perceptual strategies is a major highlight of this work
2. The definition of blindness expanded to mean "mind-blindness" is unusual and important
3. The concept of "environmental literacy" is introduced and discussed. Major orientation technologies are highlighted

C. Apparatus The book will contain the following:

a. Case studies and examples where appropriate
b. Lesson plans
c. Teaching suggestions
d. Chapter summaries
e. Extensive, colorful pictures showing staff and students engaged in activities under discussion
f. Bibliography
g. Index
h. Appendix with definitions and elaborations as needed

Market Considerations

A. Primary Markets: Blind Rehabilitation Professionals; Occupational Therapists, Blind and Visually Impaired Consumers

B. Secondary Markets: Engineering and Computer Science Fields, Cognitive Psychology and Cognitive Science Disciplines

Competition

There are no other books on the market that cover these same topics

Status of the Work

Vita

Table of Contents

Sample Material

Cover Letter

Publishers Under Consideration