THE APPLICATION OF VISUALLY HANDICAPPED PERSONS GUIDING SYSTEM IN JAPAN AND SWEDEN

In Japan, yellow braille concrete flags are often used for guiding the visually handicapped on sidewalks of big cities, in station yards, and so on. Sighted people, however, are discontent with these flags on sidewalks because: 1) the yellow color is too strong for their eyes; 2) the flags are not easy to walk on; and 3) wheel chair users have some difficulties running on the flags. Clearly, the yellow braille concrete flags are not good for peaceful coexistence between the visually handicapped and the sighted. The visually handicapped guiding system, HAMMYO, was developed to help them to move by themselves and to reduce discomfort to sighted people. This system is composed of magnetic markers containing ferrite powder, an exclusive white cane having a magnetic sensor at the bottom tip, antenna plates catching electrical signals from the exclusive white cane, and voice information broadcasting devices. When the sensor of the exclusive white cane touches a magnetic marker, the visually handicapped feel small vibrations through the white cane and are guided along the line that is composed of magnetic markers. The visually handicapped can get voiced information at places where antenna plates are laid underground. This system has been applied to about 100 places in Japan and one place in Sweden. In this report, the system is outlined and the results of its application in Japan and Sweden are presented.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Five volumes of papers and one volume of abstracts comprise the published set of conference materials.
• Corporate Authors:

  VERTIS

  TORANOMOM 34 MORI BUILDING 1-25-5
  TORANOMON, MINATOKU, TOKYO 105  Japan 
• Authors:
  • Kuge, H
• Conference:
  • Steps Forward. Intelligent Transport Systems World Congress
  • Location: Yokohama, Japan
  • Date: 1995-11-9 to 1995-11-11
• Publication Date: 1995-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 1386

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Guidance systems (Aircraft); Intelligent transportation systems; Magnetic detectors; Sensors; Sidewalks; Visually impaired persons
• Uncontrolled Terms: Guidance systems
• Geographic Terms: Japan; Sweden
• Old TRIS Terms: Magnetic detection
• Subject Areas: Operations and Traffic Management; Public Transportation; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00723405
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Volume 3
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 21 1996 12:00AM