Application of Mobile Communication System to Improve the Accessibility of the Visually Disabled

Spectacular development of information & communications technology has brought study results in various aspects for the improvement of accessibility of social minorities, the blind in a stream. It is the very navigation for the blind using GPS or mobile phone. Also, even if studies are not direct for the blind, studies on navigations for pedestrians or mobile robots can be included in this category. However, devices for the blind based on those studies still have many experimental aspects and have many problems to be settled for concrete realization. Social foundation as well as portable devices for the blind is necessary first, but those confront difficulties such as the lack of recognition and high costs. Therefore, this study aims for intensive study and presentation on what kinds of systems should be prepared for the practical application of recently improved mobile communication technology and preparation of social foundation.