BlindAid, a virtual “”white cane” system that allows the blind to explore the world around them using a 3-D haptic device (a joystick that allows them to “feel” the world — it stiffens when the user meets a virtual wall or barrier, for example) has been developed by researchers at Tel Aviv University and MIT.

Researchers in Greece have developed a new system that converts video into virtual, touchable maps for the blind.

The software tracks each structure and determines its shape and location. That data is used to create a three-dimensional grid of force fields for each structure. Two common-touch interfaces simulate the force fields by applying pressure to the user’s hand: the CyberGrasp glove, which pulls on individual fingers, and the Phantom Desktop, which applies a single force to the hand via a wand.

They also developed a system that converts pictures of traditional paper maps into a three-dimensional street map. Users run a finger or wand down the grooved roads of the virtual map, while street names are automatically read aloud.