“Wayfinding - Can't see

what all the fuss is about?”

Picture This

Imperial College London 2012

John Worsfold

RNIB Innovation and Development

Contents

• RNIB Strategy Focus and Goals 2009- 2014

• Wayfinding project, BPS wayfinding facts

• What we are doing

• How you can help

Who is RNIB?

• UK's leading sight loss charity

• A group which includes

– RNIB, RNIB NI / RNIB Scotland / RNIB Cymru

– National Library Services

– Action for Blind People

– National Talking Newspapers and Magazines

– Cardiff Vales and Valleys

• We are part of the European Blind Union (EBU) and

World Blind Union (WBU)

– RNIB can act as representatives of EBU or WBU

RNIB Strategic Focus 2009-2014

• Stopping people losing their sight unnecessarily

• Supporting independent living

• Creating an inclusive society

To create widespread and lasting change, making

a real difference to people’s lives:

RNIB aims to…

“Make the UK a better place for blind and partially

sighted people and a place where no one needlessly

loses their sight.”

“Ensure that society considers the often small and

reasonable adjustments that are required in order to

properly include blind and partially sighted people in

wider society.”

Strategic Goals

• More people are able to make journeys safely and independently.

• More people achieve independence through ICT and mobile technologies.

RNIB has 11 ambitious goals (see Appendix for full list)

The ones relating to this presentation are:

Sight loss - the facts • Almost 2 million people in the UK are living with sight loss (4

Million in 2050)[1] (WBU represents 196 countries, 285 million

BPS people)

• One in four adults didn’t know that an eye test could prevent

them from losing their sight and have not had an eye test in the

last two years. [5]

• Every day nearly 100 people in the UK start losing their sight[1]

• Every 15 minutes someone in the UK begins to lose their sight[1]

• 1 in 5 aged 75 and over are living with sight loss

• Over half of the sight loss can be avoided[1]

• Almost half (48%) of blind and partially sighted people feel

‘moderately’ or ‘completely’ cut off from people and things

around them’[1]

Contents

• RNIB Strategy Focus and Goals 2009- 2014

• Wayfinding project, BPS wayfinding facts

• What we are doing

• How you can help

Introduction to Wayfinding project

Wayfinding: - A dramatic increase in BPS people being able to make journeys and navigate environments independently and safely.

• More people achieve independence through ICT and mobile technologies.

Also linked is:

ePayments: - More people shop independently and have personal control over their money

These two projects are intrinsically linked i.e.

"Paying for goods or services during or at the end of journey" we cant solve one without the other -

Holistically, only as good as the weakest link

Within the RNIB strategic plan Wayfinding represents a major

program of work.

Research

Research shows that independent travel is a challenge

for all blind and partially sighted people and many find

themselves trapped at home.

Problems and gaps in door-to-door journeys sap

people's confidence and despite small areas of good

practice it is only a minority who feel able to make the

independent journeys they wish.

In real terms, its about…

Having the confidence to leave the house and: • go to the corner shop • go for a walk simply for leisure • make a journey involving one or all of public transport

systems • confidently and safely negotiate outdoor/indoor

environments: - e.g. railway/bus stations, bus stops, airports, office buildings, supermarkets, public buildings etc.

• Being able to independently access money, goods and services and manage finances

• Not being reliant on others.

Wayfinding- BPS related facts

Getting out and about:

• Less than half (45%) attempt to go out every day[2]

• A fifth (20%) don't go out more than once a week[2]

• Walking and public transport very popular[2]

• Nearly half (43%) want to “get out” more[2]

Trains:

• More than a third (35%) never use trains (only 11% used trains often[3]

• More than a third (39%) of those using trains have some difficulty using them (15%) found it very difficult)[3]

• 10% rated rail staff as unhelpful[3]

Barriers to travel for BPS people

• Lack of accessible information - prior to travel, to navigate the terminal, at the stop/station and on board vehicle

• Inaccessible RTI and touch screen kiosks

• Knowing when a vehicle has arrived

• When to get off and which side to exit

• Unable to understand the environment

• Cost prohibitive - two thirds (66%) of registered BPS people

of working age are not in employment.”[1]

• Unaware of discounts (DPRC), and/or affected by

concessionary fare changes

• Staff don't always understand my needs - staff awareness training/customer service

Barriers to travel for BPS people Lack of confidence/fear

• Previous bad experience knocked confidence

• Unaware of whether journey /environment is accessible and support available

• Safety concerns

"I will not travel alone to Birmingham with my guide dog since I know of two guide dogs that have fallen under the train while trying to get on or off. The new rolling stock has made the gap so large that it’s a hazard. No announcements are given to warn people of this either. I have to ask my wife to accompany me now – I shouldn’t have to do that." [4]

Contents

• RNIB Strategy Focus and Goals 2009- 2014

• Wayfinding project, BPS wayfinding facts

• What we are doing

• How you can help

Project Focus Areas:

• Mapping providers, richer data set

• Influencing transport infrastructure

• Obstacle detection

• Indoor positioning solutions

• Influencing products and solutions providers

• Getting assistance

• Feedback (audio /haptic)

• Use of Real Time Information (RTI)

Wayfinding Project - What are we doing?

Wayfinding Project - What are we doing?

• Engaging and influencing stakeholders to improve

accessibility of existing and future products and services

- MWC mainstream aligning, apps, ATM's, SatNav

solutions, Hackathon, GIS data.

• Improving the situation for ALL and thus creating

sustainability

• Identifying solutions which can be scaled up to a global

market or implemented in other countries

Wayfinding Project - What are we doing?

• Exploring current/next generation wayfinding solutions:

- e.g. Galileo, Wi-Fi fingerprinting, NFC/RFID, Bluetooth,

LED lighting, smartphone MEMS.

• Running a series of pilots to test emerging technologies

within real environments:

• Commissioned hardware prototypes to be deployed within

the environment:

- addition to infrastructure, plug the gap, inconsistency.

Contents

• RNIB Strategy Focus and Goals 2009- 2014

• Wayfinding project, BPS wayfinding facts

• What we are doing

• How you can help

Can you help us?

• Currently Indoor\Outdoor divide, whole industry developing.

• Embed infrastructure, capital outlay, never be ubiquitous enough

• Do what comes naturally, utilise the visual environment for information gathering, spatial awareness, obstacle detection and navigation

• Blended technology approach, no single solution, needs to complement others

• Removes the Indoor\Outdoor issue

• Want your help to create and test prototype solutions, create a mainstream solution that is accessible to all.

Please contact us:

John.worsfold@rnib.org.uk

07904 333 560

RNIB Innovation & Development

References

• [1] http://www.rnib.org.uk/aboutus/Research/statistics/Pages/statistics.aspx

• [2] Network 1000. Opinions and circumstances of visually impaired people in Great Britain. Douglas, Corcoran, Pavey (Aug 2006)

• [3] GDBA research (2006)"Functionality and the Needs of Blind and Partially-Sighted Adults in the UK: An Interim Report" Pey, Nzegwu and Dooley (Nov 2006)

• [4] Travellers Tales, Campaign Report 21, 2002

• [5] A survey commissioned by national charity Action for Blind People, 2008