Development and Evaluation of an Electronic Travel Aid System for Improving Mobility of Individuals with Visual Impairments: A Trial Study in a University Building

This study developed a prototype for an electronic travel aids (ETAs) system named Navigation Assisting Vest (NaVest) using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons and a smartphone application to address the challenges faced by blind or visually impaired individuals (BVIP) whilst navigating unfamiliar indoor environments. The NaVest employs ultrasonic sensors for obstacle avoidance and indoor navigation functions. Testing and evaluation of the prototype were conducted with 12 BVIP and blindfolded participants in a local university building in the United Arab Emirates. The developed prototype improved the efficiency and safety of navigation tasks, and participants were overall satisfied with the system. Future research should focus on developing ETA systems that combine several functions to help BVIP travel more independently in indoor or outdoor environments. Additionally, ETA systems with multi-language support should be considered to improve accessibility for BVIP.