tactile
tactile is a virtual extension of the existing guidance system for the blind.
A study project by Marie Backhaus, Kevin Liu, Julia Podlipensky and Afeni Sodatonou
3rd semester, 2020
Supervised by Sarah Antes, Katharina Bähr, Prof. Claudius Coenen, Martin Haas, Sebastian Haase, Prof. Tsunemitsu Tanaka and Tomáš Zebis
The problem
Public transport stations are mainly equipped with visual information. This puts blind people at a disadvantage, as they receive no information whatsoever about where their particular service departs from, how to get there, and – if there are no announcements – they sometimes do not even realise when it arrives.
To find their way around, they use wayfinding systems; however, as these still do not indicate direction and are only available in some places, we are expanding this system with virtual guidance lines that navigate users to their desired destination.
Our user group consists of blind people who have completed orientation and mobility training with a white cane and wish to use public transport safely and without barriers whilst out and about.
The solution
tactile is an attachment that can be fitted to a user’s own white cane. Through vibrations, the attachment simulates the sensation of guide lines, thereby building on a system already familiar to users so that they do not have to learn anything new.
We use two types of vibration: one to represent the guide lines that the user follows, and the other to indicate the tactile paving that signals changes in direction and hazard zones. This guidance is provided by a precise navigation system, which locates the tip of the white cane and compares it with pre-programmed routes.
In this way, we enable blind people to find their way independently at unfamiliar and complex transport hubs.
Scalability
Our system guides blind people individually to their desired destination; with the appropriate technology and the willingness of the relevant authorities, Tactile could be extended to cover the entire spectrum from public to private spaces, thereby making a significant contribution to the orientation and independence of our user group.
