2004 Volume 16 Issue 2 Pages 72-80
Navigation systems for walking in city areas have been reported. The method widely used for communication has been speech-based interface. However, high concentrations of acoustic information may overload the sensory system with a gult of information, which may increase the potential for traffic accidents involving visually impaired pedestrians . A new approach to navigation systems through stimulation of the human body solves this problem. The wearable system has a control pack(4.7kg, 400mm in height, and 370mm in width)and 'Kinematic Stimulators'. Users can also modify the system settings. Types A(attached to the arm, 0.4kg, 100mm in width, and 1200mm in length)and H(hip belt, 0.3kg, 80mm in height, and 500mm in width)are stimulators for walking direction. Types K(knee supporter, 0.1kg, 180mm in height, and 170mm in width)and S(shin supporter, 0.1kg, 170mm in height and 90mm in width)are stimulators to halt walking. The control pack and kinematic stimulators were activated by 3-12 volts DC and gas pressure from HFC134a. The infrared(IR)approach beacon system supports linear movement and radio route indicator is a kind of a‘node’transmitting an ID number. Verification was performed in doors and out doors. The air temperature ranged from 9 to 35 degrees C with temperature on the road from 8 to 49 degrees C. The illuminance ranged from 2 to 125 kilolux. The IR systems were installed along crooked line, and users traced them with ease. Users immediately stopped walking or changed direction without conscious thought when stimulation was induced by the kinematic stimulators.
