Tactile navigation with checkpoints as progress indicators?

Abstract

Persons with both vision and hearing impairments have to rely primarily on tactile feedback, which is frequently used in assistive devices. We explore the use of checkpoints as a way to give them feedback during navigation tasks. Particularly, we investigate how checkpoints can impact performance and user experience. We hypothesized that individuals receiving checkpoint feedback would take less time and perceive the navigation experience as superior to those who did not receive such feedback. Our contribution is two-fold: a detailed report on the implementation of a smart wearable with tactile feedback (1), and a user study analyzing its effects (2). The results show that in contrast to our assumptions, individuals took considerably more time to complete routes with checkpoints. Also, they perceived navigating with checkpoints as inferior to navigating without checkpoints. While the quantitative data leave little room for doubt, the qualitative data open new aspects: when walking straight and not being "overwhelmed" by various forms of feedback in succession, several participants actually appreciated the checkpoint feedback. CCS CONCEPTS• Human-centered computing~Empirical studies in HCI • Human-centered computing~Haptic devices Human-centered computing~User studies • Human-centered computing~Empirical studies in interaction design • Human-centered computing~ Accessibility theory, concepts and paradigms • Human-centered computing~Accessibility systems and tools Figure 1. Spatial navigation for deafblind persons using a wearable device providing vibrotactile feedback.