Development of a Navigation System Using Smartphone and Bluetooth Technologies to Help the Visually Impaired Navigate Work Zones Safely

Summary:

Researchers developed and tested a new system to provide audible messages to help visually impaired pedestrians safely navigate through or around work zones. This system uses Bluetooth beacons attached to work zone infrastructure that send messages to a pedestrian's smartphone app rather than the traditional method of beeping buttons that announce a message when pressed.

Final Deliverables:

• Report #2014-12
• Research Summary

Related Materials:

• App to help the blind navigate nears completion  - (News/Publication Article)
• The Drive: An App Designed to lead the blind safely  - (News/Publication Article)
• New app helps visually impaired navigate work zones  - (News/Publication Article)
• Smartphone App Guides Blind Pedestrians Through Work Zones  - (Blog Post)

Related Research:

• Deploy and Test a Smartphone Based Accessible Traffic Information System for the Visually Impaired