We get this question very frequently. Here is a post with some information and resources:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Blind/comments/hdkmo9/proposal_readme_for_sighted_visitors_thinking/

This problem is largely already solved what about a fully accessible point of sale machine?

Cheers! I’ve spent my life helping my totally blind mother find ways to study (nutritional science and biology). She has had incredible luck using accessible technologies, but there’s just so many roadblocks in the current state of tech for blind individuals, that she’s had to think outside of the box.

Navigation has been a terrible issue, as my mother is both totally blind and very physically attractive by typical beauty standards (which creates a strong challenge to her safety).

The primary issue in physical navigation in the sighted world is the number of obstacles a human encounters which are easily navigable for those who can see. A subtle change in terrain can very easily disorient someone without sight.

The other primary issue is in navigating to an intended destination. Turns must be taken at the proper time, changes in elevation may require stairs, escalators, or elevators, doors must open, and road crossings must be located and approached with extreme caution.

My family counters this issue by having someone physically guide my mother, arm-in-arm, to wherever she needs to go, to assure she is informed of terrain changes, and guided to the proper location.

The issue is not in missing a device, or a ‘magic app’ that can solve the issue of blindness, but rather that this world is not constructed with the blind in mind, at all, and technologies are added as a forethought for the safety and well-being of those who cannot see. This is understandable, but very unfortunate for those who are blind, and their families.

The other issue in this regard is the social characteristics of our society which does not put the needs of others first, but rather the needs of the individual. “I’m busy, I cannot help,” or, “I don’t know how to help you”, are the easiest cop-outs. It is easy to walk away from a problem that does not concern you, or a blind person that is challenged with navigating to their intended destination. The social problem is the true cancer preventing individuals who are blind from participating safely in the sighted world with dignity and grace.

I deeply encourage you, as someone interested in Social Entrepreneurship, to focus more closely upon the social dilemma of a self-first, others-last society.

But, that’s an eye-full / ear-full for a student looking for technologies to assist navigation. Check out the app called Be My Eyes, which may be of interest to your project.

Blessed wishes!