Navigating work zones can be challenging for all pedestrians. However, it's especially difficult for people who are blind or visually impaired. Due to differences in spatial perception as compared to sighted travelers, people with vision impairment usually encounter physical or information barriers that limit their transportation accessibility and mobility. Individuals with vision impairment often face additional challenges while navigating around work zones or crossing intersections due to insufficient information that is available to them. To help visually impaired pedestrians find their way safely, University of Minnesota researchers have developed a smartphone app together with embedded sensors on the smartphone and Bluetooth technology to detect upcoming work zones and provide routing instructions to pedestrians.
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