Aplicability of vibrations in local spatial orientation of blind people

Authors:

• Bartosz Czechyra,
• Franciszek Tomaszewski,
• Ewa Barbara Skrodzka

Abstract

For blind and partially sighted people the most hindering live barrier is limitation of free moving. This may cause lack of self-esteem and restricts gaining life experience and knowledge. To minimize technical and social barriers encountered by blind people, education of spatial orientation of blind people is carried out. For this purpose there are works carried out on the project, whose main aim is to work out a method of teaching blind people (children and youth) spatial orientation in big urban agglomeration using environmental sounds. This method is being worked out by scientists from Poznań University of Technology, the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, teachers and practitioners from education center for blind children (Specjalny Orodek Szkolno-Wychowawczy dla Dzieci Niewidomych). Defining applicability of vibrations in local spatial orientation of blind people is one of aspects of the works. Vibrations generated by moving vehicles in a city will be used as signal supporting ambulating of blind people in situations that are acoustically ambiguous. This article presets the aim and scope of works connected with using vibrations in teaching spatial orientation of blind people. The authors present research methodology and preliminary results of analysis of applicability of city sounds and vibrations generated by vehicles for the purpose of spatial orientation of blind people. Recordings were performed under supervision of spatial orientation teachers and blind consultants. The work was supported by the National Centre for Investigation and Development, grant NR11 000804.