PUBLICATION
A blind spot in indoor navigation - needs and requirements of visually impaired people
Type
Electronic Source
Year
2021
Authors
Lena Franzkowiak
Nico Tauchmann
Maria Costantino
Peter Ohler
Research Area
Event
Published in
12th Media Psychology Conference 2021
Download
DOI Poster
DOI Research Report
Abstract
Globally, an estimated 2.2 billion people have a visual impairment or
blindness (Vision impairment and blindness, 2021). Loss of vision affects people of all
ages and can occur at any time, yet most people with impaired vision are over the age of
50. With an aging general population (UN. Population Division, 2019), the number of people
with impaired sight will likely rise and their requirements should be addressed.
Smartphones are an important tool in everyday life for most people, especially the
visually impaired. They provide their users with helpful tools such as magnifying glass
functions and navigation applications, which can also be used for preparation purposes
(Khan & Khusro, 2020). As one substantial component of self-determined life is
independent and safe locomotion, smartphone navigation contributes to the idea of
inclusion and improves quality of life (Albrecht & Devlieger, 1999). Yet
navigation via GPS outside of buildings poses problems for many visually impaired people
(ViP) and indoor-navigation is generally unavailable (Williams et al., 2013). While
studies often focus on testing the navigation system itself (e.g. Guerreiro et al., 2018),
a survey of blind and ViP in the run-up to development takes place less frequently. Yet
special navigation applications for individual user groups have already been available and
used for several years. Users have been able to gain experience and can already provide
important and useful information about applications’ advantages and
disadvantages. What special requirements and wishes do users have for indoor navigation
applications? And is it possible to standardize application settings for people with
visual impairments and blindness keeping in mind that each individual has their own
idiosyncratic way of dealing with their disability (Williams et al., 2013)?
Data was collected through an online questionnaire created via LimeSurvey and
distributed to associations and institutions for ViP and blind people, as well as a press
release and Twitter. 88 people participated, but only 44 questionnaires were completed, 29
of them by blind persons or ViP and 13 with physical constraints. In parallel, 10
guideline-based interviews were conducted by telephone or video call. The content validity
of the survey was ensured by having two experts in the education and integration of blind
students review the comprehensibility of items and the technical aspects of the
questionnaire concerning the compatibility to different screen readers. The questionnaire
was in German and consisted of 6 categories (demographic data, technical affinity, daily
smartphone use, accessibility tools on the smartphone, navigation and - applications, and
personal opinion) and a total of 45 questions plus a separate questionnaire for contact
information, in order to preserve anonymity. From the technical affinity questionnaire
(TA-EG) only the sub-rating scales excitement and competence were used (Karrer et al.,
2009). The questions consisted of yes/no, multiple choice and semi open-ended questions.
The guideline-based interview consisted of 29 fixed questions for each participant.
Further questions arose from the respective interviewees, the situation or were adapted. A
question about experience with AR applications was only asked of people who still had some
residual vision.
Reference
Franzkowiak, Lena; Tauchmann, Nico; Costantino, Maria; Traubinger, Verena; Ohler, Peter: A blind spot in indoor navigation - needs and requirements of visually impaired people. 12th Media Psychology Conference 2021, pp. 150-153, 2021.
