Determining the Extent of Usability of Tactile Walking Surface Indicators

Abstract

The paper focuses on usability of guiding lines and tactile features which enable the visually impaired to move safely and independently in facilities designed for transport. On a transport terminal example, the authors, with the help of Fuzzy logic, model the degree of these modifications usability for all passengers. In the mathematical model, the input information takes advantage of Fuzzy sets which do not include sharp edges and are influenced by the real fragmentation of the given terminal´s space and the intensity of transport streams. When creating the model, firstly, input and output variables, including the values which can increase, are specified. Then, a set of rules is formulated, based on individual user groups´ specific experience. The users are divided into six basic groups: fully mobile persons, persons with reduced mobility using compensatory aids, visually impaired persons, persons with hearing impairment, persons with mild mental disabilities, and non-native speakers. The resulting outputs of the Fuzzy model are various degrees of usability of tactile features specified for the defined user groups.