The Walking Straight Mobile Application: Helping the Visually Impaired Avoid Veering
Author(s)
Paneels, Sabrina A.
Varenne, Dylan
Blum, Jeffrey R.
Cooperstock, Jeremy R.
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Abstract
The visually impaired community still faces many challenges with
safely navigating their environment. They rely heavily on speech-based
GPS in addition to their usual guiding help. However, GPS-based
systems do not help with veering issues, which affect the
ability of the visually impaired to maintain a straight path. Some
research systems provide feedback intended to correct veering, but
these tend to employ bulky, custom hardware. In response, we implemented
our "Walking Straight" application on an existing consumer
device, taking advantage of the built-in sensors on smartphones.
First, we investigated whether a continuous or discrete
form of non-speech audio feedback was more effective in keeping
participants on a straight path. The most effective form was then
tested with nine blind participants. The promising results demonstrate
that Walking Straight significantly reduced the participants'
deviation from a straight path as compared to their usual behaviour,
e.g., with a guide dog or cane, without affecting their pace.
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Date
2013-07
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Text
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Proceedings