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Indoor Navigation for the Visually-Impaired

When analyzing the plight of the visually impaired, one could consider them a technologically underserved community. More specifically, navigating between classes and office buildings serves as no small feat to the average student with visual impairments. Currently, these students depend heavily on the use of a white cane and/or guide dog for indoor navigation, which can be a cumbersome task in crowded areas or buildings with complex layouts. For instance, the noise from crowded hallways interferes with their ability to hear the vibrations of the cane to determine the end of a hallway or approaching stairs. Also, other students are drawn to playing with the dogs, which interferes with their ability to quickly and effectively lead the student to their desired destination. Finally, the poor placement, or lack, of door plates with braille or other identifying markers can significantly hinder independent indoor mobility as well. Innotech Systems Engineering will create and deliver the EyeNav System, a lightweight, low-cost, and battery-powered solution that will promote indoor navigation for visually-impaired individuals. EyeNav capitalizes on an innovative indoor positioning system called Wi-Fi-trilateration to assist individuals with visual impairments. Currently, Thompson Hall is equipped with many Wi-Fi access points. Therefore, Wi-Fi-trilateration uses these access points to determine a user’s location in Thompson Hall, as well as other buildings on campus. As the user walks inside a building, EyeNav will continuously check the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) of the nearest Wi-Fi access points. As EyeNav periodically sends the RSSI values, the server will calculate the position of the user. Along the route, the user will be notified of notable landmarks such as major hall intersections, emergency exits, stairwells, public bathrooms, and major offices through an audio output, with an optional headset. EyeNav will also feature volume adjustability, muting capability, and on demand “Where am I?” functionality. More specifically, EyeNav will have a button that the user can press to obtain his/her direct location with reference to the nearest landmark.