Development of Digital Sign System for Indoor Wayfinding by the Visually Impaired

项目简介/摘要：视障人士在学校、办公楼等陌生、复杂的室内空间中寻找方向是一项挑战。GPS技术已经被用于基于语音的导航，用于在室外环境中为视障人士寻路，但还没有相应的技术用于室内寻路。视力正常的行人有时会觉得在室内找路很困难，但他们通常可以在指示牌的帮助下找到路。无法方便地访问标识仍然是视觉障碍人士在室内寻路的主要障碍。明尼苏达大学低视力研究实验室的一个团队已经证明了数字标志系统（DSS）的可行性，该系统可以支持视障人士的室内导航。DSS最初的概念验证原型包括一个发射红外光束的手持设备。用户移动波束，直到返回一个反向反射条形码标志的反射（成本不到5美分）。计算机软件“读取”标识的图像，并将其识别码输入建筑数据库。信息，包括标志的内容及其位置，然后从数据库中检索，并通过合成语音提供给用户。已开发并验证了所有系统组件的可行性原型。这个第一阶段项目的目标是为人体测试开发一个坚固的工程原型。工程工作将包括设计改进的光学组件，开发取代当前模拟电路的数字标签定位软件，以及优化实时应用的标签识别软件。这个坚固耐用的原型将用于评估视障行人通过DSS和一个带有语音用户界面的空间数据库（称为Building Navigator）进行室内寻路的效果。在第二阶段，AME和明尼苏达大学将使dss建筑导航系统小型化，使其可以装入口袋。这些生产原型将具有商业可行性。明尼苏达大学将使用这些微型设备进行一项新的、更大的二期人体研究。项目描述：独立的流动性是充分参与现代社会的重要前提。行动不便和与之相关的社会孤立是视力丧失最严重的后果之一。数字标识系统是一项重要的新技术，可以帮助视力受损的人寻路，因为实施该系统所需的设施成本很低。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Project Summary/Abstract: It is challenging for visually-impaired people to find their way in unfamiliar, complex indoor spaces such as schools or office buildings. GPS technology has already been exploited for speech-based navigation for visually-impaired wayfinding in outdoor environments, but there is no equivalent technology for indoor wayfinding. Sighted pedestrians may sometimes find indoor wayfinding challenging, but they can usually find their way with the help of signage. The inability to easily access signage continues to be a major impediment to indoor wayfinding for people with visual disabilities. A team at the University of Minnesota Laboratory for Low-Vision Research has demonstrated the feasibility of a Digital Sign System (DSS) to support indoor navigation for visually impaired people. DSS initial proof-of-concept prototype consists of a hand-held device that emits an infrared beam. The user pans the beam until a reflection from a retroreflective bar-coded sign (less than 5 cents in cost) is returned. Computer software "reads" the sign's image and feeds its identification code to a building database. Information, including the content of the sign and its position, is then retrieved from the database and provided to the user via synthetic speech. Feasibility prototypes of all system components have been developed and validated. The goal of this phase I project is to develop a ruggedized engineering prototype for human testing. The engineering work will include designing an improved optical assembly, developing digital tag localization software that replaces the current analog circuitry, and optimizing the tag recognition software for real time application. This ruggedized prototype will be used to evaluate the efficacy of indoor wayfinding by visually impaired pedestrians via DSS and a spatial database with speech-based user interface called the Building Navigator. In phase II, AME and the University of Minnesota will miniaturize the DSS-Building Navigator system so that it fits in a pocket. These production prototypes will be commercially viable. The University of Minnesota will conduct a new, larger phase II human study using these miniaturized devices. Project Narrative: Independent mobility is an important prerequisite for full participation in modern society. Reduced mobility and associated social isolation are among the most debilitating consequences of vision loss. The Digital Sign System is a significant new technology to helping wayfinding for people with vision loss because of the low cost required for a facility to implement it.