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Contribution to Mobility and Orientation Teaching Programs: Assistive Technology Equipment and Tests Methodology

Contribution to Mobility and Orientation Teaching Programs: Assistive Technology Equipment and Tests Methodology
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Author(s): Renato Fonseca Livramento da Silva (Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Brazil)and Alejandro Rafael Garcia Ramirez (Universidade do Vale de Itajai, Brazil)
Copyright: 2013
Pages: 17
Source title: Handbook of Research on ICTs for Human-Centered Healthcare and Social Care Services
Source Author(s)/Editor(s): Maria Manuela Cruz-Cunha (Polytechnic Institute of Cavado and Ave, Portugal), Isabel Maria Miranda (Municipality of Guimarães, Portugal)and Patricia Gonçalves (School of Technology at the Polytechnic Institute of Cavado and Ave, Portugal)
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-3986-7.ch035

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Abstract

The long cane widely used by blind people in their daily locomotion works as an extension of tactile sense. However, it does not supply the need to read elements located above the waistline, commonly found in urban centers, and which represent physical constraints. Those constraints, such as pay phones, awnings, dumps, and others may cause accidents, transmitting insecurity. This chapter describes the assistive technology project named Electronic Long Cane, which has been developed as a mobility aid for blind or visual impaired people in open urban spaces. The approach includes an ergonomic design along with embedded electronics placed inside the grip of a traditional long cane. The device, through haptics, warns of obstacles above the waistline, avoiding potential collisions, therefore leading to better surrounding perception and safer locomotion. There is a discussion upfront on the efforts towards improvement of the interaction between visually impaired people and the urban environment through experimental methods. The related evaluation was carried out by voluntary blind people along with experts on mobility techniques. A detailed analysis of touch technique, which is the basis for consequent design of white cane, is also presented.

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