The studies described in this dissertation are related to the ability of visually impaired people to independently find their way and move about, either within a building or at the street. Two relatively recent developments that have a direct impact on wayfinding for visually impaired people are addressed. One of these developments is the increasing availability of electronic travel aids for navigation (ETAs). Electronic travel aids supply visually impaired people with travel information that is not or hardly obtainable without the use of vision, increasing opportunities for those who want to travel independently in both familiar and unfamiliar places. The other development concerns Shared Space, a relatively new trend in environmental design. The particular environmental changes that are generally induced by Shared-Space design constitute a possible challenge to independent wayfinding for visually impaired individuals in these areas. (Author/publisher)
Abstract