Image and Video Processing for Blind and Visually Impaired

Dear Colleagues,

Over 2.2 billion people live with vision loss throughout the world. Vision plays a primary role in the efficient capture and integration of sensory information from the surrounding environment, and is critically involved in the complex process of sensory transduction through higher-level cortical interpretation, enabling the localization and recognition of spatial layouts and objects, comprehension of three-dimensional relationships among objects and spatial geometry, including egocentric perspective or one’s own location relative to landmarks, and, on a meta-level, spatial cognition. Virtually all aspects of life are affected by loss of visual input. More broadly, visual impairment leads to difficulties in performing activities of daily living, affects safe mobility, decreases social participation, and results in diminished independence and quality of life. Beside the immediate limitations caused by sensory loss, physical/environmental infrastructure (e.g., lack of accessibility) and social factors (e.g., discrimination and lack of education resources) amplify visual impairment-related limitations and restrictions.

For this Special Issue, we call for original contributions that lead to innovative methods and applications, in particular those using image and video processing, which can be used to promote independence and community living among people of all ages with low vision and blindness. The topics include, but are not limited to:

1. Increased access to graphical information, signage, travel information, or devices and appliances with digital displays and control panels through AI-based image and video processing.
2. Improved non-visual or enhanced-visual orientation and mobility guidance in both indoor and outdoor environments by using portable and/or mobile image and video processing.
3. Increased participation of people who are blind or have low vision in science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics, and medicine (STEAM2) education and careers through the use of augmented reality techniques with image and video processing.

Prof. Dr. Zhigang Zhu
Prof. Dr. John Ross Rizzo
Prof. Dr. Hao Tang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the Special Issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Imaging is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.