S-K Smartphone Based Virtual Audible Signage

People with visual disabilities are at a clear disadvantage for using printed labels, signs, and other visual cues to aid independent travel. Remote Audible Infrared Signage (RIAS) has been shown to be effective in providing valuable orientation information for blind travelers; however limited RIAS transmitter and receiver deployment impact its availability. The Smith-Kettlewell Virtual Audible Signage (VAS) project uses ubiquitous smartphone technology to simulate the proven RIAS interface by using an iPhone as a receiver for virtual transmitters that mark signs and landmarks in the real-world environment. The virtual signs are recorded in an online database, and location and orientation sensors on the phone allow it to be used as a haptic pointing device that simulates the RIAS user experience. This paper describes an experiment to evaluate pointing accuracy of the VAS prototype, as well as the assessment of an audible warning signal presented when confidence in the orientation information was low. The system showed consistent performance with minimal impact of the presence of the warning on increased pointing error.