Beacon系統應用於視障者室內與室外定向與引導效用之使用者經驗研究

The Study of User's Experience on the Utility of the Beacon System Applied in Indoor and Outdoor Orientation and Navigation for Individuals with Visual Impairments

應用Beacon技術在視障者的定向行動協助，可謂是一項新興的技術應用。本研究目的在於透過使用者的使用經驗評估Beacon技術應用於視障者在室內與戶外定向引導之效用。在室內引導，主要是以台北市某視障圖書館為測試地點；在戶外引導則是該館往返附近公車站與捷運站13條測試路線。本研究採使用者研究法，立意抽樣30名視障者親自測試該系統，主要研究發現：該系統在視障行動引導上是具有效用，而滿意度最高則是其路線規畫與周圍環境描述之功能。本研究建議主要：Beacon技術要大量應用於視障行動引導服務之前，要先強化Beacon訊息之穩定、即時與精準，在未來發展上亦可整合GPS、Wi-Fi或智慧交通號誌等，提供視障者更完善的行動引導。 It is an emerging technology application to use Beacon technology to assist individuals with visual impairments in orientation & mobility. The purpose of this study is through user's using experience to evaluate the utility of Beacon technology applied in indoor and outdoor orientation and navigation for individuals with visual impairments. In indoor, the system was tested in one of visually impaired libraries in Taipei. In outdoor, it was tested on 13 routes from the library to nearby bus stops and a MRT station. This study applied user research methods; it used purposive sampling to sample 30 individuals with visual impairments to self-report the utility of the system. The results of this study are that the system is utility in indoor and outdoor orientation and navigation for individuals with visual impairments as well as the most satisfying aspect of the system is its route planning and description of the surrounding environment. The suggestions of this study are that Beacon technology must be improved the stability, instantaneity and accuracy of the messages Beacon transmitted before it widely using in orientation and navigation services for people with visually impaired. It can also develop to integrate GPS, Wi-Fi or smart traffic signs to provide better orientation and navigation services in the future.