Self-reported feelings of confidence
in independent travel, sense of direction and in new environments were much higher
after using RIAS.
Subjects reported they would learn
new routes or go to new environments much more often if they used RIAS,
About half of the subjects said
they would not be able to make a hypothetical trip to a job or a one-time event
independently. If RIAS was installed, they reported they would make those
same trips independently.
Fully 73% of the subjects participated
in 2 or fewer daily activities outside their homes. Travel time data showed
that many subjects were quite restricted in their activity space. For those
who did travel further, their times were often quite long.
Two-thirds of respondents said there
were some trips they did not make because of their vision problem and problems
of independent travel. On average, they reported that they would like to
make 30% more trips then they currently make.
If RIAS was installed in their environment,
97% of the subjects said they would make more trips, with an average increase
of over 100%.
Subjects revealed a high hidden
demand for more activity participation, especially for more discretionary
activities like recreation and education.
The number of people who said they
would travel to education activities, using RIAS, increased from the current level
of eight to 23.
The number of people who said they
would travel to work, using RIAS, increased from the current level of 17 to 24.
Subjects reported that RIAS greatly
improved their mental state and made for more efficient travel. They reported
they would travel more often and to more places, and that the use of RIAS would
increase their independence and spatial awareness.
Lack of vision caused high levels
of resistance when considering making a transfer to save time. This resistance
was even higher in an unfamiliar area. If using RIAS, subjects perceived
that their resistance would be much lower, similar to that reported by the sighted
control group.
Subjects exhibited increased spatial
awareness in the field test by making shortcuts. When using normal methods
of navigation, 23% made shortcuts, while 95% of those using RIAS made shortcuts.
Spatial awareness was also revealed
by spatial arrangement questions. For those using their regular methods,
44% got the correct arrangement, while when using RIAS, they got 88% correct.
Lack of visual cues, a paucity of spatial information, and increased stress and
apprehension can have a direct and strongly negative effect on the ability to
travel and participate in a wide range of activities. There is little that
can be done by the blind to quickly master travel in new environments. The
ability to access environmental cues through the use of RIAS, was perceived to
vastly increase access to urban opportunities and participation in more, and more
novel, activities. There is a large pent-up demand for increased travel
and activities, rarely investigated, which shows the limitations to access caused
by a lack of vision. Further access restrictions were also shown by the
high resistance to making mode transfers.
Whether considering travel confidence, the ease of exploring new environments,
the ability to make independent trips, reported travel and activity behavior,
the pent-up demand and hidden demand for more activity participation, transfer
making behavior, or how limited environmental cues restrict spatial awareness
and updating, this chapter has shown how the lack of vision translates into an
often limited and restricted activity space and the inability to travel freely.
These restrictions can affect all aspects of the quality of life, social
equity, and access to opportunities, including financial independence through
access to education and the job environment. In all these test scenarios,
the use of RIAS was perceived by the users to greatly mitigate these hidden barriers
to access and equality.