Non-Visual Navigation

Strategies and technologies that enable people who are blind or have low vision to navigate physical environments without relying on visual information. Non-visual navigation uses a combination of tactile cues (textured ground surfaces, cane feedback), auditory cues (traffic sounds, building echoes, smartphone audio), olfactory cues (smells from nearby businesses), spatial memory, and physical landmarks (shelters, benches, poles) to determine location and direction. Assistive technologies for non-visual navigation include GPS-based apps with text-to-speech, tactile maps, and electronic travel aids.