**Vision-Based Tactile Paving Detection Method in Navigation Systems for Visually Impaired Persons**

Anuar Bin Mohamed Kassim, Takashi Yasuno, Hiroshi Suzuki, Mohd Shahrieel Mohd Aras, Ahmad Zaki Shukor, Hazriq Izzuan Jaafar and Fairul Azni Jafar

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.79886

#### Abstract

In general, a visually impaired person relies on guide canes in order to walk outside besides depending only on a tactile pavement as a warning and directional tool in order to avoid any obstructions or hazardous situations. However, still a lot of training is needed in order to recognize the tactile pattern, and it is quite difficult for persons who have recently become visually impaired. This chapter describes the development and evaluation of vision-based tactile paving detection method for visually impaired persons. Some experiments will be conducted on how it works to detect the tactile pavement and identify the shape of tactile pattern. In this experiment, a vision-based method is proposed by using MATLAB including the Arduino platform and speaker as guidance tools. The output of this system based on the result found from tactile detection in MATLAB then produces auditory output and notifies the visually impaired about the type of tactile detected. Consequently, the development of tactile pavement detection system can be used by visually impaired persons for easy detection and navigation purposes.

Keywords: tactile pavement, image recognition, navigation, guide cane, visually impaired person

## 1. Introduction

Accessibility is one of the main problems usually associated with disabled people [1]. Physically impaired people who are using the wheelchair have difficulties in going to their desired destination when they are faced with stairs, irregular roads, etc. The physically impaired people

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need a flattened surface or lift/barrier-free elevator to overcome the stairs or irregular surfaces. Besides, visually impaired people have problems of accessibility if there is no tactile pavement to guide them to their desired destination. The most significant problem or barrier is lack of infrastructure and safe mobility device for guiding the visually impaired in their everyday lives [2]. Hence, research has been carried out to develop and construct devices and infrastructure to guide them to their desired destination safely and without any collision [3].

The implementation of technology into the life of disabled people has the tendency to intensify their ability to have a more involved social life with the community around them. It could increase their quality of life and reduce the isolation problem of disabled people by increasing independence in their lives [4, 5]. This type of technology is called as assistive technology. Assistive technology has various meanings and purposes. As commonly known, assistive technology is a device or tool that can be used for supporting and helping disabled or elderly people. Besides, there are some categories of assistive technologies for different purposes such as rehabilitation, social assisting, etc. Some assistive technologies, which are developed to help disabled people, are well documented [6–9]. However, there are also some ethical issues that need to be considered while designing assistive technologies, which could benefit the disabled and elderly people [10–13].

In addition, the development of technologies that can help the visually impaired people has also emerged over the decades, which started from the Braille code typewriter to help them write and read. By using Braille with voice recognition system as the input interface, they can get to know the latest information around them. Currently, the usage of Braille is not only applied for typewriters, but there are also some research that have been done for implementing the Braille code on mobile phones, etc. [14–16], so that visually impaired people can use mobile phones as well as smartphones. Visually impaired and elderly people also need to be in line with the current technology because of the fast evolution in the communication era lately. There are also many software or applications inside the smartphone that can be used to help the visually impaired people, although they cannot see them. In addition, applying ubiquitous technologies such as in smartphones can make the visually impaired people understand and 'see' their surroundings [17, 18].

Besides, there are also some assistive technologies which are traditionally used by the visually impaired people such as a white cane, screen reader, etc. The concept of wearable assistive technology has also been drastically researched since the fabrication of a small device is possible now. The development of the wearable device also meets the requirements of the design challenges for assistive technology such as real-time guidance, portability, power limitations, appropriate interface, continuous availability, no dependence on infrastructure, lowcost solution, and minimal training. Therefore, disabled people such as visually impaired people are able to wear it while traveling outside [19–22].

In order to start the research endeavors, some literature reviews need to be conducted. This is because the current research needs to be understood first before the direction of the research is determined. Hence, some research studies have been reviewed, especially in assistive technology and rehabilitation study that aimed to help the visually impaired people to increase their quality of life (QOL) by leading more independent lives.
