On the independent and sustainable mobility of people with visual impairments
Gabriele Galimberti · 2023 · Proceedings of the 20th International Web for All Conference (W4A '23) · doi:10.1145/3587281.3587705
Summary
This doctoral consortium extended abstract outlines a research project investigating the factors that enable or hinder independent mobility for people with blindness or visual impairments (BVI), with a particular focus on the link between mobility autonomy and environmental sustainability. The WHO estimates approximately 285 million people worldwide have visual impairments, and while Orientation and Mobility (O&M) training enables many to travel independently along known paths, navigating unknown routes remains difficult for many. The author frames the problem in two dimensions: understanding what factors make independent mobility possible (including the role of assistive technologies like mobile navigation apps), and investigating how a lack of mobility autonomy forces reliance on private transport (taxis, caregivers driving), thereby impacting sustainable mobility patterns. The paper reviews research methodologies used in BVI mobility studies — semi-structured interviews, focus groups, surveys, and diary studies — and catalogues commercial navigation technologies used by people with BVI, including Nearby Explorer, Seeing Eye GPS, Step-Hear, Lazarillo, Ariadne GPS, Microsoft Soundscape, WeWalk, BlindSquare, Clew, ViaOpta Nav, iMove, and NavCog. It also surveys research systems addressing public transit accessibility, pedestrian crossing detection, obstacle detection, and indoor navigation of spaces like train stations and airports.
Key findings
The planned research uses a two-phase mixed-methods design. Phase one involves semi-structured interviews with at least 20 people with BVI (at least half blind) to identify factors determining transport choice and understand how mobile applications affect independent mobility. Phase two is a survey of approximately 100 people with BVI, administered through an Italian association (Retina Italia), to quantitatively investigate factors impacting independent mobility. The survey covers demographics, public and private transport use, and the role of location-based mobile services. The literature review reveals a rich ecosystem of assistive navigation technologies but highlights that research has found the ability to create a mental map of a route beforehand (using tools like Google Maps) is critical for reassuring people with BVI. Research projects have addressed various aspects of public transit autonomy including bus tracking and arrival prediction, accessible platform guidance for choosing preferred transport, and navigation within transit stations. The paper identifies pedestrian crossing detection, traffic light assistance, and obstacle detection as key areas where technology supports independent mobility.
Relevance
This research proposal connects two important themes — disability mobility rights and environmental sustainability — that are rarely examined together. The insight that inaccessible public transit forces people with visual impairments toward private transport has implications for both accessibility policy and urban sustainability planning. For practitioners and policymakers, the comprehensive catalogue of commercial and research navigation technologies provides a useful snapshot of the assistive technology landscape for BVI mobility as of 2023. The planned study's focus on Italian participants through Retina Italia will add a European perspective to a field often dominated by US-based research. However, as a doctoral consortium paper, it presents a research plan rather than completed findings, so the empirical contributions remain prospective. The work highlights that independent mobility is not just a convenience issue but fundamentally affects quality of life, social participation, and environmental impact.
Tags: visual impairment · blind and low vision · independent living · public transportation · navigation · mobile accessibility · assistive technology · orientation and mobility · urban accessibility · navigation assistance