Field trials of a teleassistance system for the visually impaired

The paper reports the proof-of-concept tests, i.e. ergonomic, non-mobility tests with participation of blind volunteers and emphatic field trials (i.e. with the participation of sighted individuals) of a teleassistance system for the visually impaired. The system consists of two terminals connected by the GSM and Internet networks. The mobile terminal, housing a digital camera, GPS receiver and headset, is worn by a guided traveller and a stationary terminal is operated by a remote guide. A video stream from the traveller's camera is transmitted to the remote guide who provides assistance by short spoken navigation instructions. The trials were conducted on a university campus with the participation of seven sighted individuals. They walked along three different paths, each approximately 400 m in length, under the teleassisted supervision of the remote guide. During these trials, the sighted individuals who were being remotely guided, noted the number of potential lost ways or possible collisions. Comments from the target users, i.e. the visually impaired who assessed the ergonomic and communication quality in the static, non-mobility trials of the system, were collected. On the basis of the conducted tests and the field trials, we conclude that teleassisted navigation is a prospective solution for aiding the visually impaired in space orientation and mobility.