Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 22, 2026
06:38
Using a Virtual Reality Walking Simulator to Investigate Pedestrian Behavior
Published on: June 9, 2020
Beaconing Signalization Substantially Reduces Blind Pedestrians' Veer on Snow-Covered Pavement
David A Guth1, Richard G Long1, Dae Shik Kim1
1Department of Blindness and Low Vision Studies, College of Health and Human Services, Western Michigan University, 1903 West Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5218.
Transportation Research Record
|January 9, 2018
Summary
Audible beaconing significantly reduces veering for blind individuals crossing streets, even on snow. This wayfinding technology helps maintain straight paths in crosswalks, improving safety for pedestrians with visual impairments.
Area of Science:
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Assistive Technology
- Urban Planning
Background:
- Individuals who are blind often veer outside of crosswalks.
- Audible beaconing is an effective wayfinding tool for blind pedestrians when other cues are absent.
- Previous research on veering has primarily focused on clear, flat surfaces.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare veering on clear pavement versus snow-covered pavement.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of audible beaconing on both surfaces.
- To assess the impact of surface conditions on wayfinding for blind individuals.
Main Methods:
- Eleven blind participants used long canes to walk a 72-foot straight path.
- The experiment was conducted on both clear and snow-covered pavement.
- Audible beaconing was used as a variable in the trials.
Main Results:
- Audible beaconing substantially reduced veering at 36 and 72 feet.
- Participants remained within the simulated crosswalk when using audible beaconing.
- Walking on snow did not increase veering but did increase the number of steps taken.
Conclusions:
- Audible beaconing is an effective wayfinding tool for blind individuals in both clear and snowy conditions.
- This technology can help improve safety at intersections with accessible pedestrian signals.
- Further research could explore other environmental factors affecting pedestrian navigation for the visually impaired.
Related Concept Videos
02:07Blind Procedures
Ideally, the people who observe and record the children’s behavior are unaware of who was assigned to the experimental or control group, in order to control for experimenter bias. Experimenter bias refers to the possibility that a researcher’s expectations might skew the results of the study. Remember, conducting an experiment requires a lot of planning, and the people involved in the research project have a vested interest in supporting their hypotheses. If the observers knew which child was...
02:09Bystander Effect
The discussion of bullying highlights the problem of witnesses not intervening to help a victim. This is a common occurrence, as the following well-publicized event demonstrates. In 1964, in Queens, New York, a 19-year-old woman named Kitty Genovese was attacked by a person with a knife near the back entrance to her apartment building and again in the hallway inside her apartment building. When the attack occurred, she screamed for help numerous times and eventually died from her stab wounds.
01:11Blinding
Blinding is a commonly used method of not telling participants which treatment a subject is receiving. Blinding is a critical part of a randomized control trial or RCT. It reduces the bias that affects the results. In an RCT, blinding is used in the form of a placebo. A placebo effect occurs when untreated subjects falsely believe they have received the treatment and report improved symptoms. A placebo or a dummy treatment is administered to subjects to negate the bias caused by such an effect.
01:22Vebe Test
The Vebe test is a method used to measure the workability of concrete, particularly effective for dry concrete mixes. This test employs a specific apparatus that includes a cylindrical chamber, a standard slump cone, and a transparent disc-shaped rider, all mounted on a vibrating table. The cylindrical chamber has dimensions of nine and a half inches in diameter and eight inches in height.
To conduct the test, concrete is placed into the slump cone. The concrete is filled in layers and...
To conduct the test, concrete is placed into the slump cone. The concrete is filled in layers and...
01:27Frost Action on Concrete
Concrete structures in cold climates, such as those along roadsides, can retain moisture. This moisture makes them susceptible to frost-related damage when temperatures fall below freezing. Adding moisture worsens the damage during temperature fluctuations, leading to repeated freezing and thawing. De-icing salts, spread over these structures to melt ice, add to the freeze-thaw cycle, and draw even more moisture into the concrete.
This freeze-thaw cycle primarily causes surface scaling, where...
This freeze-thaw cycle primarily causes surface scaling, where...
01:28Survey Safety
Surveying near highways, rough terrain, or power lines involves significant risks. Working along highways is particularly dangerous and requires the use of warning signs and flagmen. It is safest to avoid working directly on roads and use offsets whenever possible. When highway work is unavoidable, it must follow all safety guidelines. Surveyors should wear bright clothing, such as orange reflective vests, to ensure visibility to motorists, coworkers, and hunters. In construction zones, wearing...