Developing wayfinding robotic support for older persons with vision impairments

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation engineering
• Human-computer interaction
• Gerontology

Background:

• Vision impairment significantly impacts mobility and independence, particularly for older adults.
• Indoor navigation presents unique challenges for persons with vision impairments (PwVI), varying with environmental familiarity.
• Aging-related changes exacerbate navigation difficulties, highlighting a critical public health concern.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a needs assessment of older PwVI navigating familiar, somewhat familiar, and unfamiliar private indoor environments.
• To explore PwVI's current navigation techniques, barriers, and coping strategies.
• To understand perceptions regarding the potential of assistive robots for indoor wayfinding.

Main Methods:

• Semi-structured interviews were employed to gather in-depth qualitative data.
• The study focused on older individuals with vision impairments.
• Data collection centered on navigation experiences, assistive technology use, and desired robot functionalities.

Main Results:

• Identified specific needs, barriers, and successful wayfinding strategies used by older PwVI.
• Highlighted existing assistive technologies (e.g., white canes) and their integration with potential robotic solutions.
• Revealed common strategies that could inform the design of wayfinding robots.

Conclusions:

• Understanding PwVI's navigation strategies is crucial for developing effective assistive technologies.
• Assistive robots show promise for enhancing indoor wayfinding for older PwVI.
• Design insights from this study can guide the development of user-centered robotic navigation aids.