Design Symbols to Raise Awareness of Visually Impaired Persons Using Haptic Floor for Safety on Roadways

Abstract

We propose a haptic floor system designed to improve accessibility and safety for visually impaired individuals in public spaces through tactile interaction. Our approach integrates symbol theory with digital functionality to establish standardized methods for communicating, perceiving, and interpreting safety-related information in real-world environments. At the core of our system is the concept of traditional Braille Blocks, which are widely used as navigational aids for the visually impaired. We extend this concept by embedding tactile symbols and vibration-based feedback into urban infrastructure, ensuring the system blends seamlessly with existing environments while preserving urban aesthetics. The system provides two primary methods of communication. First, standardized tactile symbols are used to encode spatial and environmental information, allowing users to interpret safety and navigation cues through direct touch. Second, ground-based vibration stimuli are introduced to convey changes in movement speed and spatial orientation. This tactile feedback serves as an intuitive alternative to conventional visual or auditory cues, particularly in environments where such cues may be ineffective due to noise or visual complexity. Experimental results demonstrate that visually impaired individuals are able to accurately perceive and respond to variations in movement speed through these vibration stimuli. Moreover, the findings suggest that when such stimuli are carefully designed and strategically integrated into public spaces, they significantly enhance situational awareness, thereby improving both mobility and safety.