Vibrotactile navigation displays for elderly pedestrians with memory disorders

Knudsen, Lars

4. term

Medialogy, Master

2011

84

Dette projekt undersøger brugen af vibration-baserede navigationsvisninger til ældre fodgængere med hukommelsesforstyrrelser. Arbejdet peger på flere generelle udfordringer ved sådanne hjælpemidler, som bør undersøges nærmere. For at belyse dem udvikles en bærbar vibrotaktil prototype, der giver vejvisning gennem små vibrationer. I laboratoriet testes prototypen med unge voksne for at afprøve, hvordan information kan kodes i vibrationssignaler. Resultaterne peger på, at mønstermodulation – at variere selve vibrationsmønsteret – er en nyttig måde at repræsentere afstand på, mens pludselige ændringer i amplitude (styrke) bør undgås. Den udviklede signalstrategi implementeres i en fuld navigationsløsning på prototypen og afprøves i felten med unge voksne som et alternativ til traditionel sving-for-sving navigation. Undersøgelsen viser en sammenhæng mellem, hvor ofte information vises, og deltagernes oplevelse af tryghed og frihed. Prototypen kan opfattes af ældre brugere, og der identificeres et behov for kontrol af amplitude. Afslutningsvis foreslås en metode til intelligent at afgøre, hvornår information bør vises.

This project explores vibration-based navigation displays for older pedestrians with memory disorders. It identifies general issues with vibrotactile navigation aids that warrant further study. To investigate these, a wearable vibrotactile prototype was developed to deliver guidance through small vibrations. In a lab test with young adults, the prototype was used to examine how information can be encoded in vibration signals. Findings indicate that pattern modulation—varying the vibration pattern—is a useful way to represent distance, and that sudden changes in amplitude (signal strength) should be avoided. The developed signaling strategy was then implemented in a full navigation system on the prototype and evaluated in the field with young adults as an alternative to traditional turn-by-turn navigation. The study finds a correlation between how often information is displayed and feelings of safety and freedom. The prototype is perceivable by older users, and a need for amplitude control is identified. Finally, a method is proposed for an intelligent system to decide when to display information.

[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]

Vibration ; Tactile ; Navigation ; Elderly ; Pedestrians ; memory disorder ; GPS ; Landmark ; Medialogy ; Belt ; Perception ; Case Based Reasoning

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