article

Exploring the functional specifications of a localized wayfinding verbal aid for blind pedestrians: simple and structured urban areas

Authors:

Florence Gaunet,

Xavier BriffaultAuthors Info & Claims

Human-Computer Interaction, Volume 20, Issue 3

Pages 267 - 314

https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327051hci2003_2

Published: 01 September 2005 Publication History

Abstract

We propose functional specifications for a localized verbal wayfinding aid for blind pedestrians, in simple and structured urban areas. A user-centered design approach, that is, the analyses of route descriptions produced by blind pedestrians, allowed first to evidence verbal guidance rules and then to elaborate route descriptions of unfamiliar paths; their efficiency was confirmed.

We found that specific database features are streets, sidewalks, crosswalks, and intersections and that guidance functions consist of a combination of orientation and localization, goal location, intersection, crosswalks, and warning information as well as of progression, crossing, orientation, and route-ending instructions; they have to be provided between 5 to 10 meters before an intersection, after crossing, at middle block, and after entering a street. Last, verbal guidance is possible in simple and structured urban areas, with no localization aid, and is optimal within 5 meters' precision. The outcomes and limits of the requirements of the navigational aid evidenced are discussed.

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Exploring the functional specifications of a localized wayfinding verbal aid for blind pedestrians: simple and structured urban areas

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cover image Human-Computer Interaction

Human-Computer Interaction Volume 20, Issue 3

September 2005

127 pages

ISSN:0737-0024

EISSN:1532-7051

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Publisher

L. Erlbaum Associates Inc.

United States

Publication History

Published: 01 September 2005

Revised: 08 June 2004

Received: 19 January 2004

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https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3522757
Li K(2022)Requirements of Voice Indoor Maps for Visually Impaired PersonsWeb and Wireless Geographical Information Systems10.1007/978-3-031-06245-2_11(121-130)Online publication date: 28-Apr-2022
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1007/978-3-031-06245-2_11
Xu SYang CGe WYu CShi Y(2020)Virtual PavingProceedings of the ACM on Interactive, Mobile, Wearable and Ubiquitous Technologies10.1145/34118144:3(1-25)Online publication date: 4-Sep-2020
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Constantinescu APetrausch VMüller KStiefelhagen RBigham JAzenkot SKane S(2019)Towards a Standardized Grammar for Navigation Systems for Persons with Visual ImpairmentsProceedings of the 21st International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility10.1145/3308561.3354618(539-541)Online publication date: 24-Oct-2019
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