A system for remote sighted guidance of visually impaired pedestrians

Abstract

Sighted guidance is arguably the most efficient method for aiding visually impaired pedestrians in mobility. A sighted guide's verbal instructions compensate comprehensively for the insufficiency of visual input in navigation. Moreover, the companionship entails sharing of responsibilities and thus increases the blind traveller's sense of security during a journey. The disadvantages of the sighted guidance are that a sighted guide may not always be available or their presence may not be desirable because it restricts personal independence. This paper presents a novel system for navigation of visually impaired pedestrians, whereby advanced technologies were combined to allow a visually impaired user to remotely access the sighted guidance service. The user can choose when and for how long to use the system. The remote sighted guidance system is enabled by the integration of a remote vision facility with the Global Positioning System, the Geographic Information System and the third generation telecommunication network. A user trial is also reported in which the contribution of the system to the mobility of a visually impaired pedestrian was assessed. The results obtained lead to the conclusion that the remote sighted guidance is potentially a highly usable mobility aid.

Mobile assistive technologies for the visually impaired

“…Undoubtedly, sighted guidance is an effective means of mobility assistance for visuallyimpaired pedestrians 40 . Some argue that it reduces mental demand during travel 91 and, as such, also reduces levels of associated stress 80 .…”

“…Some argue that it reduces mental demand during travel 91 and, as such, also reduces levels of associated stress 80 . Consequently, researchers have attempted to combine technological solutions with sighted guidance to arrive at teleassistance systems e.g., E, 11,22,40 -a remote guidance concept whereby, based on technologically recorded and transmitted environmental information, remote sighted guiders provide visually-impaired users with verbal descriptions of the users' environment as well as directional instructions. Common to all navigational teleassistance systems is the need for the visually-impaired pedestrian to carry a backpack containing a digital webcam, GPS receiver, and mobile phone with microphone and earpieces.…”

Using Remote Vision: The Effects of Video Image Frame Rate on Visual Object Recognition Performance

“…The implementation of the system and the consequent availability of the remote sighted guidance service hold the potential to facilitate comprehensive mobility assistance comparable to actual sighted guidance [5]. A considerable advantage of remote sighted guidance is the independence of mobility that it offers [2].…”

“…The currently established prototype of the system consists of two terminals [1,2,3]. One terminal is designed to be utilized by a visually impaired person receiving guidance while travelling (the user, the user's terminal) and the other is meant for utilization by a sighted person remotely guiding the user by means of the system (the remote sighted guide, the guide's terminal).…”

“…only on certain journey parts (e.g. in cases of accidental departures from a known route) [2]. Besides the practicality of facilitating travel from Point A to Point B, it is envisaged that the use of the system would contribute by the travel stress-reducing effect it is to afford to the user.…”