This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Add to My Marked Citations Google Scholar Articles by Marin-Lamellet, C. Articles by Aymond, P. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Combining verbal information and a tactile guidance surface: the most efficient way to guide people with visual impairment in transport stations?

French National Institute of Transport and Safety, claude.marin-lamellet{at}inrets.fr

Philippe Aymond

Association for Blind or Partially Sighted Persons, Paris

This article reports on an experiment conducted in a complex underground station with 33 participants (13 blind and 20 partially sighted) who used an infrared verbal guidance system in combination with a tactile guidance surface system and 32 participants (14 blind and 18 partially sighted) who used an infrared verbal guidance system alone. Performance of the participants was assessed by the time taken to complete the trip and the number of pauses they made. Feedback from the participants was also recorded. The results showed that the use of the two guidance devices together led to a decrease in the time needed to complete the trip and reduced the difficulties of using the verbal guidance system. The participants reported their satisfaction when using the two devices and highlighted the necessity of avoiding cognitive overload in the design of orientation systems.

Key Words: metro station • mobility • orientation • tactile surface • verbal guidance • visual impairment

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?