Systems, methods, and software for providing wayfinding orientation and wayfinding data to blind travelers
First Claim
1. A blind traveler navigational data system having a server, the server s comprising:
- means for receiving information identifying first and second landmarks from a set of predefined landmarks within a predefined geographic region;
means, responsive to the identified first and second landmarks, for accessing and retrieving from a database, blind-ready wayfinding instructions for guiding a blind or visually impaired traveler from the first identified landmark to the second identified landmark; and
means for outputting the retrieved blind-ready wayfinding instructions to a blind or visually impaired user,wherein the blind-ready wayfinding instructions includes walking path surface information for facilitating trailing.
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Abstract
To support the independence and mobility of blind pedestrians, the present inventors devised, among other things, free systems, methods, and software for providing narrative blind-ready wayfinding information. One exemplary system receives user input identifying a starting landmark and ending landmark in a particular selected geographic region, such as a city, university campus, government building, shopping mall, or airport. The system then searches a database for the corresponding narrative wayfinding instructions, and outputs them in the form of text or audio to guide a blind pedestrian from the starting landmark to the ending landmark. In the exemplary system, blind users select the geographic region as well as the starting and ending landmark from a voice-driven telephonic menu system and receive audible wayfinding instruction via mobile telephone, in some embodiments, the system also provides access to voice-driven restaurant menus.
18 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A blind traveler navigational data system having a server, the server s comprising:
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means for receiving information identifying first and second landmarks from a set of predefined landmarks within a predefined geographic region; means, responsive to the identified first and second landmarks, for accessing and retrieving from a database, blind-ready wayfinding instructions for guiding a blind or visually impaired traveler from the first identified landmark to the second identified landmark; and means for outputting the retrieved blind-ready wayfinding instructions to a blind or visually impaired user, wherein the blind-ready wayfinding instructions includes walking path surface information for facilitating trailing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method implemented using at least one processor and memory, the method comprising:
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receiving into the memory information identifying first and second landmarks from a set of predefined landmarks within a predefined geographic region; in response to the identified first and second landmarks, using the processor to access and retrieve from a database, blind-ready wayfinding instructions for guiding a blind or visually impaired traveler from the first identified landmark to the second identified landmark; and outputting the retrieved blind-ready wayfinding instructions to wireless device carried by a blind or visually impaired user, wherein the blind-ready wayfinding instructions includes walking path surface information for facilitating trailing. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A machine-readable data storage medium comprising machine-executable instructions for:
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receiving into memory information identifying first and second landmarks from a set of predefined landmarks within a predefined geographic region; in response to the identified first and second landmarks, causing a processor to access and retrieve from a database blind-ready wayfinding instructions for guiding a blind or visually impaired traveler from the first identified landmark to the second identified landmark; and causing a device associated with the processor to output the retrieved blind-ready wayfinding Instructions to a wireless device carried by a blind or visually impaired user, wherein the blind-ready wayfinding instructions includes walking path surface information for facilitating trailing. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification