Journal Facts

Journal
Journal of Environmental Systems
ISSN
0047-2433 (print) 1541-3802 (electronic)
Volume
13
Issue
4
Date
1/1/1983

Article Facts

Title
Wayfinding and Orientation by the Visually Impaired
DOI
10.2190/HJDK-607C-5MWT-H5VC
Authors
  • Craig Zimring
  • John Templer
Pages
333-352
Online Date
05/09/2002

Article Links

Wayfinding and Orientation by the Visually Impaired

Craig Zimring
John Templer

DOI: 10.2190/HJDK-607C-5MWT-H5VC

Abstract

This paper addresses wayfinding and orientation by visually impaired people. First, the characteristics of visually impaired people and several common orientation and mobility strategies are reviewed. Then, two research studies are discussed: In Study I an indoor test track was developed to explore what qualities of paving materials make them detectable by long cane users. Twenty-four visually impaired people were tested. It was found that the noise the cane made when it struck the surface was the best predictor of detectability. Study II was a field study in which sixteen subjects traversed a one-half mile (800 m) test route both before and after various countermeasures were added. It was found that six countermeasures improved the subjects' performances: wooden shoreline, tweeter, metal plates, wooden plate, rubber mats and carpet mats. Several problems and solutions are proposed.

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