The document discusses technology and its potential to improve mobility for visually impaired people. It notes that approximately 285 million people worldwide are visually impaired, and many experience isolation or difficulties accessing services due to limited mobility. New technologies like GPS, augmented reality, beacons, and smart glasses could help with navigation, but challenges remain around design, cost, training, adoption and ensuring accessibility for all. The technology opportunities are exciting but must consider these potential issues.

1. Institute for Transport Studies
FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENT
Where do we go from here?
Technology and visually impaired
people’s mobility
Bryan Matthews
Institute for Transport Studies and Centre for Disability
Studies
University of Leeds
47th annual UTSG Conference,
London 2015

2. Institute for Transport Studies
FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENT
Visual Impairment and Mobility
• Approx. 285m visually impaired people worldwide
• Approx. 65% over 65
• In the UK, 46% have contact with someone from the
outside world less than once a week!
As the population ages …
• Approx. 50% would like to go out more often
• 29% feel they cannot go out unaccompanied
• Independence and consequent health problems caused by
– lack of exercise,
– poor access to health services and
– poor nutrition due to difficulties getting to shops.

3. Institute for Transport Studies
FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENT
The Way Finding Report
Can technology be the answer?
• GPS and mapping technology
• Augmented reality
• Personal Positioning Systems
• Triggered information (Beacons)
• Electronic leadlines?

4. Institute for Transport Studies
FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENT
Components of Wayfinding
• Getting information and using it - R;
• Orientation (knowing current location) - R&L;
• Navigating (making route decisions) - R&L;
• Mental mapping (using cues to predict the best next step)
-L; and
• Exit and entrance identification (locating and moving
through accesspoints) - R;
• Closure (detecting and arriving at the right place - L.

5. Institute for Transport Studies
FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENT
Updating the Long Cane
Source: Global Accessibility News 18th
October 2013

6. Institute for Transport Studies
FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENT
Smart Glasses
Source: www.rnib.org.uk/ 22nd
August 2014

7. Institute for Transport Studies
FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENT
Smart Phone Apps

8. Institute for Transport Studies
FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENT
Autonomous Vehicles
Source: The Atlantic News

9. Institute for Transport Studies
FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENT
The Mobility Opportunities of ICT
Enormously exciting, but what about…
•Design
•Cost
•Sensory or mental overload
•Training
•Take-up
•The future for the Social Model and Universal
Design

10. Institute for Transport Studies
FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENT
The Mobility Opportunities of ICT
Enormously exciting, but what about…
•Design
•Cost
•Sensory or mental overload
•Training
•Take-up
•The future for the Social Model and Universal
Design