Audio transportation system for blind people

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to design, develop and evaluate audiobased software to assist people who are blind in public bus transportation. The audio-based software for mobile devices Audiotransantiago was designed in order to provide information regarding authorized bus stops for the entire bus service in the city of Santiago de Chile (known as Transantiago). The study was designed to allow users who are blind to build up a mental map that is adjusted to their surroundings while traveling on the bus system. It was found that the use of the software improved information processing skills, tempo-spatial orientation and orientation and mobility skills (O&M), as users were able to navigate from one place to another without having to obtain information prior to their trip. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.