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

描述(申请人提供)：项目摘要/摘要：对于视障人士来说，在学校或办公楼等不熟悉的复杂室内空间中认路是一件具有挑战性的事情。GPS技术已经被用于室外环境中基于语音的导航，以帮助视力受损的人找路，但还没有类似的技术用于室内找路。有视力的行人有时会发现室内认路具有挑战性，但他们通常可以在指示牌的帮助下认路。无法方便地接近指示牌仍然是视力障碍者在室内寻找道路的主要障碍。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，以支持视障人士的室内导航。DSS最初的概念验证原型由一个发射红外线光束的手持设备组成。用户平移光束，直到返回来自回射条形码标志的反射(成本低于5美分)。计算机软件“读取”该标志的图像，并将其识别代码输入到建筑数据库中。然后，从数据库中检索包括标志的内容及其位置的信息，并通过合成语音提供给用户。已经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开发一种用于人体测试的坚固工程原型。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，以及优化标签识别软件以用于实时应用。这一坚固耐用的原型将用于评估视障行人通过DSS和一个名为Building Navigator的基于语音的用户界面的空间数据库进行室内定向的效果。在第二阶段，AME和明尼苏达大学将DSS-Building Navigator系统微型化，以便将其放入口袋中。这些生产原型在商业上是可行的。明尼苏达大学将使用这些微型设备进行一项新的、更大规模的二期人体研究。项目简介：自主行动是充分参与现代社会的重要前提。行动能力下降和相关的社会孤立是视力丧失最令人衰弱的后果之一。数字标志系统是一项重要的新技术，可以帮助视力丧失的人认路，因为它的实施成本很低。

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.