Abstract
This study aims to explore the application of visually impaired-friendly design, focusing on enhancing the mobility and safety of individuals with low vision in urban environments. With the global population aging and the number of people with visual impairments increasing, creating environments that are more inclusive, safe, and accessible has become a pressing issue. Starting from user needs, this research introduces the concept of a smart wearable device that uses variations in the density of faint light dots as navigational cues. The study conducts a multi-faceted analysis through literature review, field observation, and in-depth interviews with three individuals with low vision. Based on this analysis, a solution grounded in existing training models is proposed. Furthermore, the study presents an initial visual display prototype featuring light dot patterns specifically designed for people with low vision. This prototype serves as a reference for future visual navigation designs that utilize faint light cues, aiming to improve spatial mobility safety and promote greater inclusivity in built environments for people with disabilities.
Keywords
Low vision; Wearable device; Faint light dot navigation
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/iasdr.2025.329
Citation
Chiang, M.,and Lin, Y.(2025) Visually Impaired Friendly Design – Exploring the Design Concept of Guiding Mobility for People with Visual Impairments Using Subtle Light Cues, in Chang, C.-Y., and Hsu, Y. (eds.), IASDR 2025: Design Next, 02-05 December, Taiwan. https://doi.org/10.21606/iasdr.2025.329
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Conference Track
Track 3 - Design, Art & Technology
Visually Impaired Friendly Design – Exploring the Design Concept of Guiding Mobility for People with Visual Impairments Using Subtle Light Cues
This study aims to explore the application of visually impaired-friendly design, focusing on enhancing the mobility and safety of individuals with low vision in urban environments. With the global population aging and the number of people with visual impairments increasing, creating environments that are more inclusive, safe, and accessible has become a pressing issue. Starting from user needs, this research introduces the concept of a smart wearable device that uses variations in the density of faint light dots as navigational cues. The study conducts a multi-faceted analysis through literature review, field observation, and in-depth interviews with three individuals with low vision. Based on this analysis, a solution grounded in existing training models is proposed. Furthermore, the study presents an initial visual display prototype featuring light dot patterns specifically designed for people with low vision. This prototype serves as a reference for future visual navigation designs that utilize faint light cues, aiming to improve spatial mobility safety and promote greater inclusivity in built environments for people with disabilities.