Full e-thesis link is provided below. If the link is broken, the thesis can also be found in the University of Nottingham e-Theses Repository.
Abstract:
Being able to navigate is an important part of everyday life and difficulties in being able to do so are likely to affect people’s opportunities for work and social inclusion and participation in general. However, blind and partially sighted people (BPSP) face difficulties when they navigate as they are not able to observe the surrounding effectively. Traditional navigation aids such as white canes and guide dogs are commonly used by BPSP. However, they can be limiting and fail to provide adequate information to facilitate independent travel. With the advent of new navigation technologies, there is an opportunity to develop affordable and user-centric navigation systems that cater to the specific preferences and needs of BPSP by incorporating personal data into navigation systems.
Researchers have focused on developing navigation solutions for BPSP to allow them to navigate independently whether by developing special tools or apps on the smartphone and wearables. As a result, there are numerous navigation solutions for BPSP varying in efficiency and price. These navigation solutions have been developed and updated over time considering the latest technologies and user interaction with the systems. However, user preferences, needs and strategy have not been effectively considered which are among the key factors of providing user-centric systems and tailoring solutions to individual users.
The work described in this thesis represents an attempt at understating of how personal data might enhance the outdoor navigation of BPSP including user preferences and needs. In addition, drawing from BPSP and mobility trainers’ inputs, describing a conceptual framework of a state-of-the-art navigation system that is user-centric, affordable and efficient. This research presents a series of studies starting from interviews with blind, partially sighted and sighted people to understand the nature of their navigation and identify navigation strategies in familiar and unfamiliar journeys. In addition, comparing the navigation experience of BPSP with sighted people. The findings of this study revealed the route selection factors that affect the navigation of BPSP. Extensive data analysis resulted in classification and presentation of the factors whether they are useful or potential risk for the individuals. The navigation experience and route selection strategy tend towards safety and assurance issues in unfamiliar journeys. Unique definition of good and bad routes has been elicited from the participants revealing individual preferences and concerns.
Interviews with mobility trainers who provide training and navigation support to a considerable number of BPSP were carried out to elicit their navigation requirements, challenges and preferences. Useful insights have been received from the participants about their challenges, strategies and concerns of navigation. Highlighting the potential of creating navigation-related user profiles. One of the key findings was the necessity of orientation and mobility as well as technology training to BPSP to enhance their navigation support and increase their confidence level. This will encourage them to navigate independently and improve their livelihood.
Focus groups were carried out with BPSP to highlight the current navigation systems’ strengths and weaknesses as well as describing a state-of-the-art low-cost navigation system which meets the needs of BPSP. The study identified the navigation systems used by BPSP and the issues with the current systems. Moreover, the findings identified the potential navigation systems that are not used by the BPSP and the associated reasons. A key finding of the study was describing an ideal navigation system that can be tailored to individual preferences and needs to help them navigate independently. The data from the interview and focus group studies were used to highlight the navigation-related personal data of BPSP. Developing a user profile structure that can be incorporated into the existing and future navigation systems. The user profile structure contains novel components that accommodate user, technology and environment-related navigation data. This allows the navigation systems and relevant authorities to provide personalised navigation support to BPSP.
A conceptual framework of the navigation system for BPSP was developed benefiting from the findings of previous studies in this thesis. The necessary components have been presented with their associated details accounting for the planning and other navigation stages. The navigation system conceptual framework was evaluated using comparative evaluation with the main navigation system used by BPSP. In addition, user evaluation was carried out using scenario-based decision-making approach. The findings of the comparative evaluation study revealed the issues with the main navigation systems such as lack of obstacle and landmark details on the map that are of concern to the blind or partially sighted individual. This confirmed the necessity of incorporating the user profile into the navigation system’s route-finding component to account for those details. The findings of the user evaluation study revealed the need for customisation in the navigation system conceptual framework for both planning and navigation stages. Another key finding confirmed the necessity for prioritising the safety over preferences of the individuals. This includes the route generation stage and during the journey.
Faculty of Engineering
Supervisors: Terry Moore, James Pinchin, Robert Houghton
Keywords: personal data, blind people, partially sighted people, BPSP, outdoor navigation, journeys
