Institute for Transport Studies FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENT Environmental and technological dimensions to visually impaired people’s mobility Where are we now? Bryan Matthews June 2014

Institute for Transport Studies FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENT Visual Impairment and Mobility Approx. 285m visually impaired people worldwide Approx. 65% over 65 In the UK, 46% have contact with someone from the outside world less than once a week! As the population ages … Approx. 50% would like to go out more often 29% feel they cannot go out unaccompanied Independence and consequent health problems caused by –lack of exercise, –poor access to health services and –poor nutrition due to difficulties getting to shops.

Institute for Transport Studies FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENT Components of Wayfinding Getting information and using it - R; Orientation (knowing current location) - R&L; Navigating (making route decisions) - R&L; Mental mapping (using cues to predict the best next step) - L; and Exit and entrance identification (locating and moving through accesspoints) - R; Closure (detecting and arriving at the right place - L.

Institute for Transport Studies FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENT Understanding Visually Impaired People’s Methods of Wayfinding VIPs quite capable of formulating spatio-cognitive maps (Passini et al,1990) Evidence that VIPs: “prepared journeys in more detail, made more decisions during the journey, and relied on more units of information” (Passini and Proulx, 1988). Need to develop an “environmental information system” accessible to all “a coherent ensemble of architectural and graphic cues that provides the decision-making user with adequate wayfinding information at the appropriate place in a form that is both accessible and understandable” (Passini, 1984).

Institute for Transport Studies FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENT But better understanding needed of: what spatial information should be given; in what form that information should be given; at what locations information should be given; and how these vary with key parameters, e.g. visual impairment and time.

Institute for Transport Studies FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENT Inclusive Design An inclusive process; Led by accredited professionals; Involving users; With appropriate consultee training Addressing cases on their merits

Institute for Transport Studies FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENT Tactile Paving Source: DfT, 2010

Institute for Transport Studies FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENT Follow the yellow-brick road Source: travelinghero.blogspot.com

Institute for Transport Studies FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENT Shared Space Removing the demarcations between pedestrian space and vehicle space Sharing leads to greater freedom for pedestrian and greater caution from motorist Generally controversial Specifically problematic for visually impaired mobility Photo: Exhibition Road, London (source:

Institute for Transport Studies FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENT Road Crossings Range of formal and informal crossing-types Visual, audio and tactile indicators Current work for Guide Dogs – searching for evidence of: 1.The importance of road crossings for pedestrians 2.The extent of use or reliance on crossings 3.pedestrians' preferences between crossing-types 4.How pedestrians use crossings (independently or accompanied) 5.thoughts on informal crossings provided in shared space.

Institute for Transport Studies FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENT Walk this way… route

Institute for Transport Studies FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENT Talk this way…

Institute for Transport Studies FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENT Technology Can technology be the answer? GPS and mapping technology Augmented reality Personal Positioning Systems Triggered information (Beacons) Electronic leadlines? Exciting but not alternative to inclusively designed built environment

Institute for Transport Studies FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENT The Mobility Opportunities of ICT Websites, Assistive Technologies and Apps Design Cost Training Take-up The digital sub-divide?