Detection of warning surfaces in pedestrian environments: the importance for blind people of kerbs, depth, and structure of tactile surfaces.
OBJECTIVE
The overall purpose was to study whether and how persons with blindness detect warning surfaces with a long white cane in a real pedestrian environment after following a natural guidance surface to the warning surfaces. Of particular interest was the importance of kerb, depth, and structure of the warning surfaces.


METHODS
A concurrently mixed methods approach, with a combination of observation using a structured form together with 'think aloud' and a structured interview, was used. It was done with well-defined samples and study sites in an inter-disciplinary research context.


RESULTS
The results show that the most important design characteristic for detection of the warning surfaces with a white cane is the structure of the surface, while the depth of the surface and availability of a kerb do not have any impact on the detection. A precondition was that there is a distinct natural guidance surface leading up to the warning surface.


CONCLUSIONS
The probability among pedestrians with blindness to detect a tactile surface is not higher if the design solution has a kerb. This study also confirms the complexity of being a blind pedestrian in the traffic environment. The results can be used for evidence-based physical planning. The study also has implications for development of more efficient vision rehabilitation.
Ståhl
Agneta
A
Faculty of Engineering, Department of Technology and Society, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
Newman
Emma
E
Dahlin-Ivanoff
Synneve
S
Almén
Mai
M
Iwarsson
Sussane
S
D000328:Adult; D001107:Architectural Accessibility; D001766:Blindness; D002183:Canes; D004779:Environment Design; D006804:Ergonomics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012682:Sensory Aids; D013499:Surface Properties; D014110:Touch; D019987:Persons with Visual Disabilities; D016138:Walking; D055815:Young Adult