10.2190/HJDK-607C-5MWT-H5VC HJDK607C5MWTH5VC 4 Wayfinding and Orientation by the Visually Impaired 333 352 20020509 20020509 20020509 20020509 HJDK607C5MWTH5VC.pdf http://baywood.metapress.com/link.asp?target=contribution&id=HJDK607C5MWTH5VC 4 Craig Zimring John Templer College of Architecture, Georgia Institute of Technology This paper addresses wayfinding and orientation by visually impaired people. First, the characteristics of visually impaired people and several common orientation and mobility strategies are reviewed. Then, two research studies are discussed: In Study I an indoor test track was developed to explore what qualities of paving materials make them detectable by long cane users. Twenty-four visually impaired people were tested. It was found that the noise the cane made when it struck the surface was the best predictor of detectability. Study II was a field study in which sixteen subjects traversed a one-half mile (800 m) test route both before and after various countermeasures were added. It was found that six countermeasures improved the subjects' performances: wooden shoreline, tweeter, metal plates, wooden plate, rubber mats and carpet mats. Several problems and solutions are proposed. C. M. Zimring, Stress and the Designed Environment, <i>Journal of Environmental Systems, 37</i>, pp. 145-171, 1981. T. Heller, The Effects of Involuntary Residential Relocations: A Review, <i>American Journal of Community Psychology, 10</i>, pp. 471-492, 1982. J. Templer, and C. M. Zimring, <i>Access Information Bulletin: Accessibility for Persons with Visual Impairments</i>, National Center for a Barrier-Free Environment, Washington, D. C., 1981. B. Blasch, Environmental Orientation and Human Mobility, in <i>Foundations of Orientation and Mobility</i>, R. L. Welsh and B. B. Blasch (eds.), American Foundation for the Blind, New York, 1980. C. M. Zimring, Cognitive Mapping and the Blind, paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Environmental Design Research Association, Buffalo, New York, May, 1979. G. W. Evans, Environmental Cognition, <i>Psychological Bulletin, 88</i>, pp. 259-287, 1980. R. L. Welsh and B. B. Blasch (eds.), <i>Foundations of Orientation and Mobility</i>, American Foundation for the Blind, New York, 1980. J. Aiello and E. Steinfeld, <i>Access and Use of Buildings by People with Severe Impairments of Vision</i>, Syracuse University School of Architecture Research Office, Syracuse, New York, 1979. J. Templer, J. Wineman, and C. M. Zimring, <i>Provisions for Making Pedestrian Highway Crossing Structures Accessible to the Physically Handicapped</i>, final project report submitted to the U. S. Department of Transportation, March 25, 1982.