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MOBIC: Designing a Travel Aid for Blind and Elderly People

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 October 2009

Helen Petrie
Affiliation:
Sensory Disabilities Research Unit, University of Hertfordshire
Valerie Johnson
Affiliation:
Sensory Disabilities Research Unit, University of Hertfordshire
Thomas Strothotte
Affiliation:
Institut für Simulation und Graphik, Universität Magdeburg
Andreas Raab
Affiliation:
Institut für Simulation und Graphik, Universität Magdeburg
Steffi Fritz
Affiliation:
Institut für Simulation und Graphik, Universität Magdeburg
Rainer Michel
Affiliation:
Institut für Simulation und Graphik, Universität Magdeburg

Abstract

This paper presents the research for the development of a new travel aid to increase the independent mobility of blind and elderly travellers. This aid will build on the technologies of geographical information systems (GIS) and the Global Positioning System (GPS). The MOBIC Travel Aid (MOTA) consists of two interrelated components: the MOBIC Pre-journey System (MOPS) to assist users in planning journeys and the MOBIC Outdoor System (MOODS) to execute these plans by providing users with orientation and navigation assistance during journeys. The MOBIC travel aid is complementary to primary mobility aids such as the long cane or guide dog. Results of a study of user requirements are presented and their implications for the initial design of the system are discussed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Institute of Navigation 1996

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References

REFERENCES

Brabyn, J. (1995). Orientation and navigation systems for the blind: an overview of different approaches. In Proceedings of the Conference on Orientation and Navigation Systems for Blind Persons, (ed. Gill, J. M. and Petrie, H.), Hatfield, UK, 12 February. London: Royal National Institute for the Blind.Google Scholar
Petrie, H. (1995). User requirements for a GPS-based travel aid for blind people. In Proceedings of the Conference on Orientation and Navigation Systems for Blind Persons, (ed. Gill, J. M. and Petrie, H.), Hatfield, UK, 1–2 February. London: Royal National Institute for the Blind.Google Scholar
Stephens, R. (1995). The OPEN Project. In Proceedings of the Conference on Orientation and Navigation Systems for Blind Persons, (ed. Gill, J. M. and Petrie, H.), Hatfield, UK, 1–2 February. London: Royal National Institute for the Blind.Google Scholar