3.4. Subject Observations on the Benefits of RIAS
subjects also answered open-ended questions that elicited any differences between
their regular method of travel and their opinion of travel behavior when using
RIAS in a rich and robust environment such as they experienced in the test area.
After having just completed rigorous transit and transfer simulations, all subjects
offered a wide range of opinions. There was no limit on the time to answer
the five open-ended questions.
These comments strongly indicate the potential for RIAS to increase independent
and safe travel with much less stress and difficulty for those with visual impairments.
In addition, they offer insight into the mind-set of this population. Blind
and vision-impaired people often avoid making negative comments about the difficulties
they face living in a sighted world (see responses in Section 3.3.1 General Transportation
Problems ). It is therefore hard to understand the difficulties of navigation
without sight because of this mind-set. It might even be true that congenitally
blind people do not really understand what vision is like and so may not be aware
of what is truly different about their world.
RIAS offers positive identification and directional cues to spatial environments
that can substitute for some of those given by vision, and the results of these
following opinions reveal how this new knowledge radically changed the opinions
of these subjects regarding travel behavior. After using RIAS, they had
a new knowledge of how to access their environment, even in a novel setting.
For example, in pre-test interviews, no person mentioned that having to ask for
help while traveling was a problem or concern. However, after using RIAS,
every person mentioned it as an improvement to their regular method. These
data should be viewed on two levels: (i) the value of RIAS to enhance travel and
quality of life, and (ii) what their answers reveal about the restrictions and
difficulties endured by those without sight in the present state of affairs.
By extrapolation, one can see that a positive statement made about RIAS is also
a negative statement about their current situation.
For the five opinion questions, all subjects’ responses were broken down
by individual statements and parsed to yield a list of single responses. These
responses were sorted alphabetically, and naturally occurring categories, those
with many similar or identical responses, were identified.
Fear and uncertainty at street crossings can create a barrier to travel for this
population. There are many anecdotal stories about people avoiding entire
areas of their environment because of difficulties at crossings. People
without vision receive much training from their O&M instructors on this important
skill. Without this skill, some people do not leave their homes or they
might lead a very dependent life with little personal freedom.
At street crossings, two RIAS transmitters are used. One beam gave an indication
of the WALK and WAIT signal, and also provided a directional beam across the intersection.
In addition, another beam gave information about which street subjects
were on, which direction they were facing, the block #, and the name of the cross
street they were approaching. Information about transit locations across
the street and the presence of a push button for the pedestrian signal were also
available. Although not provided at this installation, information
can also be given about safety islands and turn-lane (or any other pertinent information)
on this second beam.
The first question in this series was: “ Think about the street crossings
we just made. What was different from your regular method when using Talking
Signs (R)?” (For all subjects’ comments, see
APPENDIX 14 : Comments about Street Crossing Differences ).
- “Got info on walk signs, don't have to listen & wait for cycle,
much faster, know block #, direction I'm facing, street names, knew when not
to go, more secure, gives additional info.”
- “Extra tool for alignment, know when to start, don't have to pause,
know there is a push button, saves search time for button, gives directional
info, gives cardinal direction, can fill in visual map in my mind.”
- “Follow beam when walk sign comes on, with regular method couldn't
hear traffic, safer, knew direction, block #, didn't have to search, no ask,
knew to only cross 2 lanes for Muni, gave me info without learning.”
- “Incredible difference, wouldn't have to wait for passers-by to ask,
didn't have to assume they spoke English, got positive ID, timely info, able
to align myself, not distracted crossing street, easy to find push button,
knew when to safely walk.”
Subjects’ responses were broken down by individual statements and parsed
to yield a list of single responses. These responses were sorted alphabetically
and naturally occurring categories, those with many similar or identical responses,
were identified.
(For category analyses, see APPENDIX 15 : Categorization
of Street Crossing Differences ).
Table 3. 4 Effect of RIAS at Street Crossings
“Think about the street crossings we just made. What was different
from your regular method when using Talking Signs (R) ? ”
|
Category
|
30 subjects
|
|
Confirms walk signal
|
35
|
|
Increased spatial orientation
|
22
|
|
Confirms direction
|
17
|
|
Confirms crosswalk alignment
|
16
|
|
Identifies street names
|
13
|
|
Identifies block number
|
11
|
|
General efficiency
|
10
|
|
Gives more independence, assurance
|
9
|
|
Confirms presence of push buttons
|
8
|
|
Identifies intersection & lanes
|
5
|
All subjects offered positive opinions on this question. There were a total
of 146 comments. The categories reflect each of the types of messages given
by RIAS at the street crossing, in addition to some general statements.
The 30 subjects offered 35 comments about how the system confirmed the WALK signal.
They said they knew when to walk or start and commented on how it was faster,
safer, and easier to know when to cross the street.
General statements about the increase in spatial orientation were made 22 times.
They reported learning what was around them, how the system gave them additional
information and positive identification, and how they learned needed spatial information.
One subject reported that he could “ fill in a visual map in my mind.”
Except for the presence of a hot sun shining on a person, there is little way
for a blind person to know objectively the cardinal direction one is facing.
This fact was reflected by the 17 people who made comments on how the RIAS gave
them cardinal direction information when they were walking, or where they were
facing.
Similarly, 16 people mentioned that the system confirmed crosswalk alignment.
RIAS gives a directional beam across to the opposite corner, and, as long
as a person stays in that beam, they will arrive at the correct destination instead
of possibly being outside of the crosswalk zone. Subjects’ comments
mentioned how the system gave them a beam to follow across the street, how it
helped them to align for the walk, and that they did not veer when crossing.
This constant feedback of correct alignment is something that no other intersection
system offers to the blind user. The positive influence of RIAS is strongly
confirmed by the number of these comments.
Positive street name identification remains a mystery to most blind travelers.
RIAS gives the name of the street being walked and also the upcoming intersection.
Subjects made 13 comments about how RIAS identified street names.
Another 11 comments were made to the effect that RIAS identified block numbers
of the street. This information is sometimes on street signs, but usually
one has to be able to read a nearby building number. Ten comments were made
that were categorized as “general efficiency.” Subjects mentioned
that they didn’t have to count blocks, deduce, or remember information.
They also commented that travel was faster, safer, and more secure, and one subject
said there was an “incredible difference.”
A possible subset of “general efficiency” is a group categorized as
“gives more independence and assurance” with nine comments.
Subjects specifically mentioned that they wouldn’t have to ask for help,
that they felt more independent and wouldn't’ have to wait for, and rely
on, other people, and that they had more confidence and assurance.
A blind person has no way to know, without a tactile search, if a traffic signal
push button exists or where it is. Eight people specifically mentioned
that RIAS confirms the presence of push buttons. They reported that this
information saved search time.
Urban areas can have very confusing and diverse intersections, traffic patterns,
and turn lanes. Another four comments were made about how RIAS helped identify
street intersection types, traffic flow and change, and the number of lanes.
Subjects used the WALK signal and directional beam four times in the experiment;
the other street information was only available two times, and many subjects did
not use it in their tasks. The subjects commented on every message type
that the system offered. They realized that information about the WALK
signal, the direction across the street, the type of intersection and number of
lanes, the identification of street names, block numbers, cardinal direction,
and push button locations was a vast improvement over their regular method.
The vision-impaired participants praised the amount of additional spatial information
about the environment and the increased independence, safety, and efficiency of
travel available to them when using RIAS.
Navigating around a new or even familiar terminal can be quite a daunting task.
Finding gates and boarding areas can be confusing, and gaining access to amenities
can leave the best blind traveler frustrated and tired. A typical trip
to a terminal would entail finding the entrance, a ticket machine or window, locating
any amenities needed, such as bathrooms or food stands, and then finding the right
track, gate or boarding area. As with crossing busy streets, this is another
of the many tasks that can be so difficult that some blind people will not dare
try to explore and use a new terminal, especially with normal time constraints.
Other people might require the use of a sighted guide to teach them the
paths necessary to accomplish the tasks.
To better understand problems of navigating terminals and the effect of using
RIAS, subjects were asked: “Think about finding various features
in the terminal. What was different from your regular method when using
Talking Signs(R) ?” ( For all subjects’ comments see
APPENDIX 16 : Comments about Terminal Differences ).
- “Didn't have to ask, independent, didn't have to feel dirty walls
& counters, knew where I was & where I was going, able to find platform,
locations, spatial relationships, can make shortcuts, can find landmarks without
going there, learned what was sold even though not looking for it, able to
quickly locate & use amenities”
- “Easy, not frustrating, makes things do-able, had a clear spatial
orientation, learn more than from O&M training, more detailed spatial
orientation, got specific info, didn't have to grope, could tell things from
a distance, easy to line up and go to it, veering was easy to fix, didn't
have to re-orient, didn't have to ask, knew I could do it with ease.”
- “Concentrate on hazard & safety instead of spatial configuration
& orientation, shorter distance, quicker travel, would have had to ask
for help, was not distracted by noise & movement, more
focus, knew which direction I was to go, learn more detail, found things I
didn't know, explains layout.”
- “Much quicker to get idea where things are, much quicker to find out
what is around you, gives spatial info, helps emotionally when I can know
what's around, makes it fun to go out & explore, "it's the difference
between a walk in the park & a walk on a treadmill facing a wall", can
go right to track or location rather than counting, don't have to search for
landmarks, don't have to ask, independent.”
3.4.3.2. User’s response categories
Subjects’ responses were broken down by individual statements and parsed
to yield a list of single responses. These responses were sorted alphabetically
and naturally occurring categories, those with many similar or identical responses,
were identified.
(For category analyses see APPENDIX 17 : Categorization
of Terminal Differences ).
Table 3. 5 Effect of RIAS at Transit Terminal
“Think about finding various features in the terminal. What was different
from your regular method when using Talking Signs (R) ?”
| Category |
30 subjects |
| Positive identification of locations |
46 |
| Increased knowledge of spatial relationships |
40 |
| Increased independence, no asking |
39 |
| Better mental state |
30 |
| Gave direct path to locations |
9 |
| Don't have to count or feel |
8 |
| Discovery of new locations |
5 |
All subjects offered opinions favoring RIAS on this question. There
were a total of 177 comments. The categories reflect a comprehensive
view of the benefits of RIAS in aiding blind travel through positive identification
and spatial direction and the resultant change in attitude.
The 30 subjects offered 46 comments about how the system offered positive identification
of locations. In addition, they listed a wide range of specific locations
they could find easily at the terminal, they noted that it told them where to
go, and they made comments about the instant access and feedback to information
they received. One said that it was like “looking around”
and another reported, “ I can point and get info instead of someone else
moving my hand with no logical sequence.”
Another 40 comments specifically mentioned the increase in spatial orientation
they received from the system. They mentioned increased knowledge of
the environment and in their mental maps of the area. They remarked on
how they could explore better with the increased knowledge of orientation and
layouts, and that they could make shortcuts because of this knowledge.
They also mentioned they didn’t have to memorize, accumulate knowledge,
re-orient, or shoreline to successfully navigate a terminal.
Increased independence or not having to ask for help formed a category with
39 comments. The problem of having to find people for help is highlighted
by 28 comments saying they didn’t “have to ask”. Others
mentioned not having to find people, and how they avoided getting bad directions
from others. Another eight comments were made using the word “independent”
or mentioning not having to use a sighted guide.
Some comments dealt more with positive mental attitudes resulting from using
the system and its increased information. A category for “better
mental state” had 30 comments. Some remarks included comments about
faster and easier search times, increased safety, confidence, and less worry.
One commented that RIAS “helps emotionally when I can know what's
around.” Another said it “makes it fun to go out and explore”
and a third made a special request that, when sighted people are told about
the benefits of RIAS, to report that "it's the difference between a walk in
the park or a walk on a treadmill facing a wall"
In addition to the 46 comments about positive identification of locations and
the 40 comments about increased spatial orientation, there were an additional
nine comments made about getting a direct path of travel to locations.
These comments highlighted the directional aspect of the RIAS, i.e., that it
leads them directly to objects.
Another eight comments were categorized as “don’t have to count
or feel.” This is also part of the increased spatial orientation
available to RIAS users, but they were kept separate because this reflects the
problems of blind orientation and shows another benefit of the system.
People don’t have to count doors or feel around what are often dirty areas
to find cues to aid orientation or identification.
Altogether, there were 103 comments by 30 subjects that related to general
spatial orientation, positive identification of locations, and the direct path
information that was afforded by this system. It is easy to see how sparse
this information is when using regular methods of blind orientation and travel.
Blind travelers might spend their mental energies searching for and finding
only locations that are needed to accomplish their tasks. With typical
vision, a person’s knowledge base, spatial awareness, and cognitive map
are constantly updated; even non-essential or low utility information (to that
person for solving the immediate travel problem at hand) is learned and stored.
A sighted person can easily learn spatial locations that they are not
looking for, but this serendipitous type of spatial learning is usually not
part of a blind person’s activity, unless they practically run into something
they are not searching for. Throughout the experiment, many subjects
mentioned how they found things they weren’t looking for, and, on these
open-ended question, people specifically mentioned that they found objects or
locations they weren’t looking for. This is another benefit of
receiving cues from distal objects, and learning their identity without taking
time to investigate each location. Learning about the surroundings while
making a direct path from A to B greatly expands the spatial information and
configuration knowledge for people with little or no vision.
With 177 positive comments from 30 subjects about the use of RIAS in a transit
terminal environment, there can be little doubt that the system aids mobility,
spatial orientation, navigation, and successful trip making abilities while
decreasing stress and greatly increasing the independence of the blind user.
Making transfers between routes, and especially between different modes often
run by different agencies with different rules and fares, can be quite challenging
for even the sighted traveler. Without visual cues, transferring can
be so difficult that those types of trips might be avoided or require lengthy
practice and training to be accomplished. People must learn each location
they wish to use; there is little consistency between locations, and so it is
quite difficult to transfer knowledge from one transit area to other locations.
This greatly affects the ability of some blind people to independently explore
a system or make transfers at any but those place where they have had training,
limiting their access to restricted locations and routes. Without external
cues, unfamiliar locations are still “terra incognitae.”
When no external cues reach the blind traveler, that person must take bodily
action to maintain physical contact with the environment (Millar, 1981)
. However, vision can actively focus attention on distal cues and they
can be used as landmarks, even if they are never used as destinations (von Senden,
1960) .
To better understand problems encountered when making modal transfers, the
experiment simulated five such transfers. At the end of the experiment,
subjects were asked to “ Think about the transfers we made between different
modes of transit. What was different from your regular method when using
Talking Signs (R)?” (For all subjects’ comments, see
APPENDIX 18 : Comments about Transfer Differences ).
- “I could easily find modes on my own, didn't have to ask & hope
it's right, felt secure to do it, able to find various locations in a timely
manner, wouldn't miss connections, didn't have to ask, felt independent, would
not have done it on my own, assured of correct info, wouldn't have known where
cab stand was, didn't have to get escort, knew where bus was located would
not have known, learned that phones were in bus shelters.”
- “When you ask people for directions you can get close enough to use
TS, didn't have to ask many people, opens up the world to independent travel,
can find exact locations, don't have to guess, ID's bus stop. ID's where
you are, know exact pole or gate to wait at, no missed connections, ID's bus
#'s that stop”
- “Can expand your usage of different modes, knew direction, street
names, what was on other side (of street), more beneficial, told me what bus
stops at platform, saves much time, saves agony & frustration.”
- “Usually waste SO much time, TS helped me navigate quicker, can go
to unfamiliar areas & navigate efficiently, TS helps make travel &
transfers quickly & safely, don't have to ask, or deal with strangers,
feel more independent, self-sufficient.”
- “Told me where fare machine was, bus was, knew which way to go, help
find taxi, knew which direction to leave station, knew exactly where bus stop
is, which bus stops there, saves time, don't wander around, feel at ease,
secure, had fun, makes travel simpler.”
3.4.4.2. User’s response categories
Subjects’ responses were broken down by individual statements and parsed
to yield a list of single responses. These responses were sorted alphabetically
and naturally occurring categories, those with many similar or identical responses,
were identified.
(For a listing of how the parsed responses were categorized, see APPENDIX
19 : Categorization of Transfer Differences ).
Table 3. 6 Effect of RIAS on Making Transit Transfers
“Think about the transfers we made between different modes of transit.
What was different from your regular method when using Talking Signs(R)?”
| Category |
30 subjects |
| More efficient travel |
35 |
| Increases independence |
27 |
| Identifies locations, general information |
25 |
| Improves mental state |
24 |
| Identifies locations, bus stop |
22 |
| Identifies locations, doors and platforms |
12 |
| Spatial information, directions |
10 |
| Identifies locations, fare machine |
8 |
| Increases spatial orientation |
5 |
| Identifies locations, taxi stand |
4 |
| Identifies locations, street names |
2 |
| Identifies locations, phone |
2 |
All subjects offered opinions concerning Talking Signs’ ability to provide
distal cues, with 176 comments. The categories reflect a comprehensive
view of the difficulties faced when making transfers in a timely manner.
They point out specific areas where RIAS greatly increases spatial knowledge and
orientation and how this increased knowledge leads to more efficient travel and
a more relaxed state of mind.
A total of 75 comments were made indicating that RIAS helped identify locations.
Statements about identification and knowledge of a general nature were
made 25 times. Subjects mentioned how the system gave positive identification
and how one can know for sure and get information from a distance. Another
22 comments were made specifically about how RIAS helped find and identify bus
stops. Positive identification of doors, and train and subway platforms,
were mentioned 12 times. Fare machines can often be hard to identify and
locate and eight people said that RIAS helped them find those locations.
Four people mentioned locating and identifying taxi stands, phones were mentioned
two times, and two people mentioned the identification of street names.
The belief that RIAS would lead to more efficient travel was stated 35 times.
Comments were made about travel being faster and easier and they would
not wander around or miss locations. They could expand their use of transit
and make transfers more often, and they would not miss connections if the systems
were installed.
Increased independence and not having to ask for help were mentioned 27 times.
Not having to ask was mentioned specifically 13 times, the word independent was
used seven times, and the rest mentioned that they didn’t have to wait for
people, get help, and that they could travel on their own. People don’t
like to complain about being dependent or having to ask for help, and these data
show again that this is something they do not like or want to do, and that the
availability of distal environmental cues frees them from reliance on other people
and greatly increases their independence.
In addition to the comments about independence, subjects made 24 statements that
were classified as “improves mental state.” They spoke of confidence
and self-assurance, being more at ease, and not having to guess. They mentioned
feeling more secure, safe and comfortable, and having less stress and frustration.
One person said, “felt equal to sighted people,” another said,
“felt worthwhile.” “Hell of a lot easier” and “saves
agony and frustration” are other comments that reflect on this category.
Little has been researched on the effects of stress and frustration on
blind travelers, but these data show the mental anguish that can stem from blind
navigation.
Ten people mentioned knowing for sure which direction to travel. They commented
on being able to know cardinal directions, how the system helped them know which
way to go, and how the system gave them information about vehicle travel direction.
Spatial orientation was mentioned five times. These people remarked that
RIAS gave them better mental maps, good spatial layout or orientation, and that
the system gave them relationships and helped define areas.
Table 3. 7 Summary of Comments from 3 Open Ended
Questions
|
Street |
Terminal |
Transfers |
Total |
| Tasks and locations |
127 |
100 |
90 |
317 |
| Trip behavior |
10 |
0 |
35 |
45 |
| Improved mental attitude |
9 |
77 |
51 |
137 |
| Total |
146 |
177 |
176 |
499 |
The three previous questions asked people to explain the difference when using
RIAS during three tasks. Most (317) of the responses dealt with specific
tasks and location that were made easier to access, 45 comments were made dealing
with improvements to trip behavior in general and 137 comments dealt with the
improvement in affective states and attitudes. There were no negative or
neutral comments made out of almost 500 comments. The high number of responses,
over 5 comments per person, demonstrated the enthusiasm of these travelers for
enhanced environmental cues.
In the earlier Santa Barbara experiment, the RIAS was installed only on buses,
bus stops, and at the small terminal. Comments were invited about other
locations subjects would like to see RIAS installed. Only a summary of
those comments was offered in that report (Marston & Golledge, 1998b) ,
the data were later more fully analyzed and are presented here. Subjects
were allowed to list as many places as they wanted. A total of 163 locations
were given. It should be noted that this question was asked soon after
they had answered a series of structured questions about the use of Talking
Signs ® in the transit environment and at street crossings.
This question showed the value of open-ended questions, as some responses were
given that the researchers had not considered. One blind subject who
often rides in cars wanted to see them installed at expressway interchanges
so he would know where he was during a trip. Another thought they would
be helpful to announce sidewalk grade and width changes. Another mentioned
he would like to see them on cruise ships so that he could explore without having
a sighted guide. Structured questions designed by a researcher might
have missed some of these types of locations.
The types of places that were suggested were broken down into nine categories.
Twelve suggestions were put into the "everywhere" category, six people
used that term and others said things such as "all over" and "world-wide."
On a smaller geographic area, nine suggestions were placed in a category "Multi-purpose
/ large public areas." These included statements like "downtowns" or
a "campus." Subjects mentioned 23 locations that were large or public
buildings, including museums and libraries. Some suggestions were specific
like "convention centers" while many mentioned government or public buildings.
The most mentioned location was that of retail stores. These included
mention of places such as malls, shopping centers and grocery stores.
Recreational locations such as parks, amusement parks, theaters and entertainment
areas were suggested 23 times. Locations that provide services like banks,
hotels, medical offices, and restaurants were mentioned 23 times. Suggestions
to put RIAS at street corners and intersections were made 16 times. Transit,
including buses, airports, and transit stations was mentioned 23 times.
Seven people suggested using RIAS to label amenities or provide information
such as to the location of restrooms, public phones, building directories, and
information kiosks.
The suggestions show the extent to which blind and vision-impaired people have
difficulty using the urban environment and its services. Their agreement
on large areas such as malls, public buildings, stores, and offices indicates
how difficult access can be in these areas. The wide range of areas mentioned
should impress on planners and government agencies the current difficulties
encountered by blind users and how important it is to improve access to this
part of the population.