Biomimetic image processing for retinal prostheses: peripheral saliency cues.

Retinal prosthesis recipients may still have degraded vision, such that additional information about their surroundings may help them perform certain tasks. We evaluate a system that provides cues that point towards important objects. Using a simulated vision grid of 6 x 10 pixels, subjects perform object location and mobility tasks with and without the help of cues. The velocity of head movement in degrees per second and the time taken by subjects to finish the tasks are recorded. Results show that a cueing system may help to reduce and organize the head movements of the subjects, whereas a time benefit exists in object location but not in mobility tasks.