A mobile guide system for visually disabled persons

This paper presents a new mobile guide system for visually disabled persons. The system utilizes the latest technologies such as data-carriers, mobile communication and portable computers. Data-carriers are embedded at many places in the station such as floors, platforms and walls. Coded data recorded in data-carriers are transferred to users via a reader installed in the name of the user. The data are interpreted by a portable computer, which generates appropriate guide messages utilizing geographical information and user's personal data stored in it beforehand. Guide messages are finally conveyed orally to the user via a portable speaker.