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Audible Beaconing with Accessible Pedestrian Signals
Janet M Barlow1, Alan C Scott, Billie Louise Bentzen
1Accessible Design for the Blind, Asheville, NC.
AER Journal : Research and Practice in Visual Impairment and Blindness
|July 13, 2010
Summary
Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) with audible beaconing improved blind pedestrians' wayfinding at complex intersections. Revisions enhanced crossing accuracy and independence in locating starting points and alignment.
Area of Science:
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Transportation Engineering
- Assistive Technology
Background:
- Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) are intended to aid pedestrians, particularly those with visual impairments.
- Traditional APS in the U.S. have shown limited effectiveness in improving wayfinding for blind pedestrians at signalized intersections.
- Challenges include locating crosswalks, pushbuttons, and directional guidance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of APS with innovative audible beaconing features in enhancing wayfinding for blind pedestrians.
- To assess improvements in street crossing performance before and after APS installation.
Main Methods:
- Objective data collection on street crossing performance for 56 participants.
- Study conducted at four complex signalized intersections in Charlotte, NC, and Portland, OR.
- Comparison of performance before and after the installation of APS with audible beaconing features.
Main Results:
- Initial APS with beaconing showed only marginal improvements in wayfinding.
- Revisions to the audible beaconing features led to significant improvements in four key measures.
- Improvements were observed in starting and ending crossings within the crosswalk, and in independence in locating the starting position and alignment.
Conclusions:
- APS incorporating audible beaconing from the far-end of the crosswalk demonstrate potential for improving pedestrian wayfinding.
- Further development and implementation of these features could enhance safety and independence for blind pedestrians at intersections.
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