Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Dealing with fires (self.Blind)
submitted 7y ago by EDD_project2
Hi!
We are a group of high school students interested in designing a system for our engineering class that will help blind individuals caught in building fires. Would anyone be able to provide us with some information on how a blind individual would escape from this situation with the current technology available?
Thank you for your time!
We are a group of high school students interested in designing a system for our engineering class that will help blind individuals caught in building fires. Would anyone be able to provide us with some information on how a blind individual would escape from this situation with the current technology available?
Thank you for your time!
fastfinge 2 points
I was born blind. At least during fire drills, I just ask the person nearest to me for help. Unfortunately, the fire alarm is so extremely loud that I find it quite disorienting, because it drowns out all of the sounds I would normally use to navigate. In that situation, I can't navigate anywhere complicated safely, and just need to depend on a guide.
EDD_project2 [OP] 1 points
Alright, thanks for the info! Have you given thought into what you would do if you're alone in an unfamiliar building (e.g. a hotel), or do you just avoid those situations all together?
Unuhi 1 points
I was sighted before. I used to dread all fire ecit markings, all locked doors and fire exits. I still do. Big buildings, especially hospitals - i can handle navigation a bit better outdoors, but indoors i get lost all the time.
If o've been somewhere before, i rely on my memory, try to find my land,arks, reme,ber turns as far as i can, use audio cues... New place? I want something like blindsquare for indoors. My cane skills suck, and don't want to think what would happen in an actual fire drill.
If o've been somewhere before, i rely on my memory, try to find my land,arks, reme,ber turns as far as i can, use audio cues... New place? I want something like blindsquare for indoors. My cane skills suck, and don't want to think what would happen in an actual fire drill.
fastfinge 1 points
Well, in a hotel, there are going to be tons of other people exiting there rooms because of the fire alarm. I can just ask one of them for help as they pass me. In that situation, asking strangers for help is no problem. I really can't think of a situation where I would be entirely alone in a large building, without even any passing strangers who I could ask for help.
Bob_0119 1 points
What are you looking for exactly? A blind person that has actually been in a fire or just some thoughts on what a blind person might do if there were a fire? What are you hoping to develop?
I am a legally-blind former volunteer firefighter, I might be able to help
I am a legally-blind former volunteer firefighter, I might be able to help
EDD_project2 [OP] 1 points
Both would be helpful- we're trying to figure out what would go through the mind of a visually-impaired person when in a fire- if they would have a plan in mind to escape, if they would be too disoriented to handle the situation unassisted, etc. Someone without experience would help us understand how a blind person would prepare for the situation, and someone with experience would help us know what actually happens.
We are thinking about a system that can be installed throughout a building (with a floor plan unfamiliar to the individual) that uses sound (edit: or vibrations) to guide a safe route to the exit. However, we want to know what currently exists and perhaps improve on that instead.
If you're wondering what we do in the class: we identify a humanitarian issue, brainstorm a solution (what we're doing right now), mockup/tweak the design, and build a prototype.
We are thinking about a system that can be installed throughout a building (with a floor plan unfamiliar to the individual) that uses sound (edit: or vibrations) to guide a safe route to the exit. However, we want to know what currently exists and perhaps improve on that instead.
If you're wondering what we do in the class: we identify a humanitarian issue, brainstorm a solution (what we're doing right now), mockup/tweak the design, and build a prototype.
Bob_0119 3 points
Right on. That's an intriguing question!
The only things I could add is to consider the following:
1) Rarely is a blind person ever in an unfamiliar environment by themselves. Typically, if we are going to an unfamiliar building, it is usually to see (no pun intended) someone like a doctor or other professional.
2) Most commercial structures have extraordinarily loud fire alarms and there is no universal sound for them. If you were going to make an audible guide to emergency exit routes, you will have to ensure that it is clear that's what the noise means (like something verbally saying "stairwell; fire exit this way" or something). This wouldn't necessarily be a bad idea.
3) Another thing to consider is the overlap of multiple noises and geneal chaos including the fire alarm itself, people yelling and moving in different directions (some running out, some running back in), and the possible confusion of more than one device saying "fire exit this way" (as one might lead to the actual exit while the other leads them away from it).
Not sure if any of that is helpful to you, but I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have
The only things I could add is to consider the following:
1) Rarely is a blind person ever in an unfamiliar environment by themselves. Typically, if we are going to an unfamiliar building, it is usually to see (no pun intended) someone like a doctor or other professional.
2) Most commercial structures have extraordinarily loud fire alarms and there is no universal sound for them. If you were going to make an audible guide to emergency exit routes, you will have to ensure that it is clear that's what the noise means (like something verbally saying "stairwell; fire exit this way" or something). This wouldn't necessarily be a bad idea.
3) Another thing to consider is the overlap of multiple noises and geneal chaos including the fire alarm itself, people yelling and moving in different directions (some running out, some running back in), and the possible confusion of more than one device saying "fire exit this way" (as one might lead to the actual exit while the other leads them away from it).
Not sure if any of that is helpful to you, but I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have
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