Wayfinding without Vision

Abstract

In a wayfinding experiment a group of 15 congenitally totally blind subjects and a matched control group of 15 sighted subjects were guided through a complex architectural setting. After two guided tours they had to make the journey on their own. An analysis of their decision making showed that the blind subjects tended to prepare theirjourney in more detail, that they made significantly more decisions during the journey, and relied on significantly more units of information. The nature of the decisions made and the information used by the two groups showed some interesting differences: About half of the decisions made by the visually impaired group were not part of the sighted group's repertory; furthermore, certain environmental features important to one group were totally ignored by the other. According to a cognitive mapping exercise and a posttest questionnaire, a third of the congenitally totally blind subjects were not only capable of representing the route taken without errors, but demonstrated as well a general understanding of the spatial attributes of the setting. Although the blind group as a whole tended to make more errors, the overall performance compares favorable with the sighted control group. The findings are discussed in terms of wayfinding theory and design implications.