MoBIC : user needs and preliminary design for a mobility aid for blind and elderly travelers, The European Context for Assistive Technology

This paper presents the initial research for the development of a new travel aid to increase the independent mobility of blind and elderly travellers. The MoBIC travel aid consists of two interrelated components: the MoBIC Pre-Journey System (MoPS) to assist users in planning journeys, and the MoBIC Outdoor System (MoODS) to execute these plans by providing users with orientation and navigation assistance during journeys. The MoODS is a secondary aid, complementing primary aids such as the long cane or guide dog. We outline the results of our user needs survey and the preliminary design of the MoBIC travel aid.