Embodied Interaction Paradigm for Users with Severe Visual Impairments

这个探索性项目的目的是测试一个概念验证，它反映了一个新兴的和潜在的变革性移动系统，以增强严重视觉障碍用户的识别和寻路功能。PI的远近环境意识系统（NaFEAS）将与RFID标签和传感器一起在移动电话平台上运行，这些标签和传感器作为用户可以更新的知识数据库的输入和输出。NaFEAS将识别被标记的物体，并在矢状面和冠状面周围的指定信封内向用户提供音频和其他反馈。此外，NaFEAS将促进在近距离和远距离环境中使用标记物体的寻路。这里的重点是使用参与式设计开发低保真原型；其理论基础是具身认知，强调充分利用感官、手势和空间来理解物体和环境。当视力正常的设计师或研究人员改造视觉主导的交互模式以开发可访问的设备时，PI将特别努力将认知偏差降到最低。该原型将由目标群体成员使用包含自我报告、行为和生理变量的实验设计进行评估。更广泛的影响：除了产生对目标人群具有巨大价值的原型产品外，实验结果还将提高我们对严重视觉障碍患者如何成功与下一代系统（包括移动、可穿戴和无处不在的系统）进行交互的认识。这些知识可以推广到PI将要使用的测试平台之外的技术。

The purpose of this exploratory project is to test a proof-of-concept that reflects an emerging and potentially transformative mobile system to enhance recognition and way-finding function for users with severe visual impairments. The PI's Near and Far Environmental Awareness System (NaFEAS) will run on a mobile phone platform in concert with RFID tags and sensors which serve as inputs and outputs to a knowledge database that can be updated by the user. NaFEAS will recognize tagged objects and provide audio and other feedback to users within a designated envelope around the sagittal and coronal body planes. In addition, NaFEAS will facilitate way-finding using tagged objects in the near and far environments. The focus here is on the development of a low-fidelity prototype using participatory design; the theoretical basis is embodied cognition, which emphasizes the full use of senses, gestures, and space to understand objects and the environment. The PI will take special pains to minimize the cognitive biases occurring when sighted designers or researchers retrofit visually-dominant interaction patterns to develop accessible devices. The prototype will be evaluated by target group members using an experimental design with self-report, behavioral, and physiological variables. Broader Impacts: Besides resulting in a prototype product that will be of great value to the target population, the findings from the experiments will advance our knowledge of how individuals with severe visual impairments successfully interact with next generation systems, including mobile, wearable, and ubiquitous systems. This knowledge will be generalizable to technologies beyond the test bed the PI will be using.