Two types of alternate audible traffic signals (alternate ATSs) that have recently been developed in a purpose of strengthening navigational function were comparatively studied by observing walking tendency of the 14 vision impaired participants at the actual crosswalk of 20m long. One type of alternate ATSs emits identical sounds and the other type different sounds from two speakers located on both side of a crosswalk. By analyzing walking tendency from video recording, the authors classified it into three categories such as 1) no deviation from crosswalk, 2) reaching the destination after deviation, and 3) disorientation after deviation. The authors have found that the frequency of disorientation and the degree of deviation were considerably fewer in the alternate ATS with different sounds.
Samenvatting