Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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[Question] How do blind/visually impaired people navigate to their destinations? (self.Blind)
submitted by weiyi97
Coming from a country where inclusive infrastructure isn't available in most of the places, I have wondered how blind people actually navigate to their destinations.
For example, within a metro station there are guiding lines on the floor, but during peak hour it could be very distracting and how do you know where you are heading to? I have observed that the guiding lines will lead to escalator/stair/elevator/exit, but how do you know where is the exit A or B you are heading to?
Out on the street, how do you know that you are walking towards your store and not passing it by accident?
I have an idea that might work but not sure if it is already there. I am thinking about a beacon system that broadcasts the 'IP' for each destination in a zone, where the user could be navigated by voice using a wireless headphone via position tracking.
Could this system be of any use?
For example, within a metro station there are guiding lines on the floor, but during peak hour it could be very distracting and how do you know where you are heading to? I have observed that the guiding lines will lead to escalator/stair/elevator/exit, but how do you know where is the exit A or B you are heading to?
Out on the street, how do you know that you are walking towards your store and not passing it by accident?
I have an idea that might work but not sure if it is already there. I am thinking about a beacon system that broadcasts the 'IP' for each destination in a zone, where the user could be navigated by voice using a wireless headphone via position tracking.
Could this system be of any use?
Rethunker 1 points 2y ago
Beacons have been tried outdoors and indoors for years. For outdoor use there are a number of apps that rely on GPS.
Beacon-based systems haven't worked that well indoors. There's a lot of research on this subject, and I would suggest you google for academic works to see what's already been done.
Determining what sort of feedback is appropriate is difficult. Voices are helpful but distracting. Beeps and other tones don't carry a lot of information, and can be annoying. Someone who wants more feedback on a leisurely vacation stroll may want very little feedback walking a familiar route to work. And if you focus on audio-only feedback, you're leaving out DeafBlind people who use any of a number of different communication techniques.
If you want to work in assistive technology, please read this post:
$1
Beacon-based systems haven't worked that well indoors. There's a lot of research on this subject, and I would suggest you google for academic works to see what's already been done.
Determining what sort of feedback is appropriate is difficult. Voices are helpful but distracting. Beeps and other tones don't carry a lot of information, and can be annoying. Someone who wants more feedback on a leisurely vacation stroll may want very little feedback walking a familiar route to work. And if you focus on audio-only feedback, you're leaving out DeafBlind people who use any of a number of different communication techniques.
If you want to work in assistive technology, please read this post:
$1
weiyi97 [OP] 2 points 2y ago
Thanks a lot! I have to admit that I wasn't as informed when I thought of the idea and posted here. I have read a bit more resources in the link you have included and that's very useful!
siriuslylupin6 1 points 2y ago
Memory and what I nickname mind mapping is really really damn helpful. Picture the place and lay it out in your mind basically memory and draw a map in your mind either visually or tactily. So yeah. I don’t use a lot of markers just memory and knowing my stuff. In stations I get someone to help me.
weiyi97 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Yea, I think that's quite similar to how I remember stuffs in not-so-familiar places. Like having a mind map and include some landmark or marker along the way.
For places you have never been to, I guess it will be more difficult for you if help isn't available? Do you think that an indoor positioning system with destination guidance feature would be helpful?
When you wish, you could activate your guidance programme which will induce vibration on your wristbands or voice reminder via earphone to stay on the planned route.
Technical aspects (accuracy, power, refresh rate) aside, would you think that this could be too annoying for an assisting technology?
For places you have never been to, I guess it will be more difficult for you if help isn't available? Do you think that an indoor positioning system with destination guidance feature would be helpful?
When you wish, you could activate your guidance programme which will induce vibration on your wristbands or voice reminder via earphone to stay on the planned route.
Technical aspects (accuracy, power, refresh rate) aside, would you think that this could be too annoying for an assisting technology?
siriuslylupin6 1 points 2y ago
Maybe but nothing beats exploring if I haven’t been there and I have time I explore if not I ask for help if possible. If I can’t I explore anyway.
I think some people would like it. Beacons exist but are expensive and most places don’t want to install them. I am use to doing it the old fashioned way which in my opinion you can’t replace.
I think some people would like it. Beacons exist but are expensive and most places don’t want to install them. I am use to doing it the old fashioned way which in my opinion you can’t replace.
weiyi97 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
I see, thanks for your feedback! I think for a lot of us going out to malls isn't just a point A to point B thing, as we would like to explore stuffs along the way right?
For this tech to make sense..... I think it can be used in places where lots of people are new to the place and wanting to go to specific point quickly, like airport or train stations. But yea beacon is too expensive to cover an entire airport. Maybe WLAN positioning could work better?
For this tech to make sense..... I think it can be used in places where lots of people are new to the place and wanting to go to specific point quickly, like airport or train stations. But yea beacon is too expensive to cover an entire airport. Maybe WLAN positioning could work better?
siriuslylupin6 1 points 2y ago
Not a problem. I guess not for me but for most people yes it is. Most people like to do that yes.
Hmm... not sure maybe and yeah, that’s interesting I think a lot of places just need to implement what’s out there. It’s not that we don’t have enough stuff it’s society that doesnt’ want to utilize it.
Hmm... not sure maybe and yeah, that’s interesting I think a lot of places just need to implement what’s out there. It’s not that we don’t have enough stuff it’s society that doesnt’ want to utilize it.
kkolb7 1 points 2y ago
My blind husband has used blind compasses, iPhone apps, and now a GPS device from Sendero -
$1
Decades ago, you just learned your route. There are / were classes on blind mobility where blind people are taught how to navigate a city using mass transit.
$1
Decades ago, you just learned your route. There are / were classes on blind mobility where blind people are taught how to navigate a city using mass transit.
weiyi97 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Thanks for your insight! I just looked up on more papers and found one describing the indoor guiding beacon system pretty like what I thought of. Perhaps this would be more useful compared to the traditional GPS system where indoor and multiple floors are known to work poorly.....
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