Enhancing Obstacle Visibility with Augmented Reality Improves Mobility in People with Low Vision

Area of Science:

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Assistive Technology
• Vision Science

Background:

• Navigating environments and avoiding obstacles presents significant challenges for individuals with low vision, impacting their mobility, safety, and independence.
• Impaired yet functional vision in low vision individuals necessitates innovative solutions to augment their environmental perception.
• Augmented Reality (AR) offers potential for enhancing visual information and improving real-world task performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of Augmented Reality (AR) enhancements on obstacle visibility and mobility for people with low vision.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of 3D AR markings in improving navigation through a real-world obstacle course.
• To assess the user experience and potential of AR technology in supporting the independence of low vision users.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-five participants (14 with low vision, 11 typically sighted) completed a real-world obstacle course.
• Participants used smart glasses under two conditions: AR-enhanced 3D obstacle markings and a control (passthrough only).
• Key metrics included walking time, path length, and collision frequency.

Main Results:

• AR enhancements significantly decreased walking time, particularly for the low vision group.
• AR technology led to a significantly shorter path length during navigation.
• Reduced time and path length were achieved without an increase in collisions, indicating improved obstacle avoidance.

Conclusions:

• Augmented Reality (AR) technology significantly enhances obstacle visibility and improves mobility for individuals with low vision.
• AR systems show potential to increase independence and confidence in navigating complex environments for low vision users.
• Design guidelines for future AR assistive systems for low vision are discussed.