Book chapter
Assistive Navigation Systems for the Visually Impaired
Encyclopedia of Information Science and Technology, 3rd Edition, pp.315-327
IGI Global, 3rd Edition
2014
Abstract
The positioning and tracking block determines the position of the user through the use of triangulation or trilateration techniques and tracking is achieved by continuously updating the position of the user. Locating is similar to positioning except that it does not include information on the orientation and direction of the user. This becomes important when working indoors whereby most systems provide location detection rather than the position. The pathfinding block determines routes from between two locations optimised based on traveling time, cost and/or distance. Once the path is determined, the guidance block provides guidance such as turn-by-turn instructions to the user. More advanced systems can determine in real-time the surrounding conditions and guide the user around obstacles.
The most commonly known navigation system currently in use is based on the Global Positioning System (GPS), which rely on a constellation of satellites orbiting Earth for trilateration based positioning. These systems typically provide audio-visual based guidance for the user to traverse the path. Such guidance is not well suited for the visually impaired whose guidance is primarily in the form of audio and tactile feedback (touch).
The next section will describe the technologies commonly used in components of the navigation system used for the visually impaired. Next, the chapter describe what assistive technologies are available for the visually impaired and compares five different assistive navigation systems for the visually impaired (ANSVI). Then, this chapter discusses about pathfinding, and reviews two more pathfinding-focused systems. Finally, future research directions are presented before this chapter concludes.
Details
- Title
- Assistive Navigation Systems for the Visually Impaired
- Authors
- Kai Li Lim (Author) - Sunway UniversityLee Seng Yeong (Author) - Sunway UniversitySeng Kah Phooi (Author) - Edith Cowan UniversityLi-Minn Ang (Author) - Edith Cowan University
- Contributors
- Mehdi Khosrowpour (Editor)
- Publication details
- Encyclopedia of Information Science and Technology, 3rd Edition, pp.315-327
- Publisher
- IGI Global
- Date published
- 2014
- Edition
- 3rd Edition
- DOI
- 10.4018/978-1-4666-5888-2.ch030; 10.4018/978-1-4666-5888-2
- ISBN
- 9781466658899
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Engage Research Lab
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99569199502621
- Output Type
- Book chapter
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