We studied visually impaired people's indoor walking behavior and cane usage in order to provide foundational understanding for navigational assistance system design. To understand visually impaired people's walking which they are confronting many dif...
We studied visually impaired people's indoor walking behavior and cane usage in order to provide foundational understanding for navigational assistance system design. To understand visually impaired people's walking which they are confronting many difficulties we observed and interviewed visually impaired people's behaviors while they walk through familiar paths and unfamiliar paths. From the user study we analyzed their cane usage way-finding process and the locational information they need. We found awareness of current location and directional information are essentials for visually impaired people's way-finding. Their information needs are increased when they move on a corner or an unfamiliar path. Because some visually impaired people have linear concept on indoor space contrary to unimpaired people's spacial concept the interface design of a assistance system needs to address their unique spacial experience and concept on the interface.