Visual semantic parameterization - To enhance blind user perception for indoor navigation

This paper presents a novel approach of utilizing the floor plan maps posted on the buildings to infer a semantic plan that aids in the navigation of a visually impaired person. The extracted landmarks such as room numbers, doors, etc act as a parameter to infer the way points to each room. This provides a mental mapping of the environment to design a navigation framework for future use. A human motion model is used to predict a path based on how real humans ambulate towards a goal by avoiding obstacles. Travel route is presented in terms of blind understandable units, which is achieved by accurate estimation of the user's location and confirmed by extracting the landmarks posted on the doors. The results show that it is feasible to make a blind user to travel independently by providing the constraints required for safe navigation.