Yoji Kitani

Accessible Optical Wireless Pedestrian-Support Systems for Individuals with Visual Impairment

We construct a pedestrian support system using visible-light communication with self-illuminated bollards. The system is designed for the requirements of people with weak eyesight and the elderly to notify them of danger and obstacles such as steps and signals. The luminescent color that the color temperature of 2000 K, that is orange, is suitable for communication. And we demonstrate prototype models of visible-light communication with 4PPM modulation format. Moreover, we carry out evaluation experiments with visually impaired people to determine the best distance for danger notification.

Demonstration of Pedestrian Movement Support System Using Visible Light Communication

We constructed a pedestrian support system for the visually impaired that uses visible light communication (VLC) from self-illuminating bollards. To achieve this goal, we conducted a visibility evaluation using pedestrians with low and normal vision to determine the best bollard lighting pattern for pedestrian navigation systems. Furthermore, we designed a receiving terminal that is easy to manage and can be operated by touch alone. Moreover, we constructed a sidewalk model to evaluate the navigation system, and the communication area of the system was experimentally determined. We then created a prototype of the navigation system using VLC. The prototype was evaluated by visually impaired users, clarifying the effectiveness of the system.

Visibility evaluation experiments of optical wireless pedestrian-support system using self-illuminating bollard

We proposed a pedestrian movement support system using visible-light communication (VLC) with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for the people of weak eyesight and the elderly. It provides the user safety information in the neighborhood or the route information, and receives a request from the user and traffic information by the LED light. We conducted visibility evaluation experiments with visually impaired people to satisfy the quality of experience for flickerfree. We created three-types of hands-free receiver (neck, arm, and white cane) of the navigation system to inform danger condition and/or obstacles such as steps and signals. The prototype was evaluated by visually impaired users, clarifying the effectiveness of the system.

Experimental Study of Impression and Psychophysiological Evaluation in the Identification of Design: Focus on the Difference in the Expression of Illustrations

The purpose of this experimental study is to elucidate how is the expression of illustrations giving a positive impression from the viewpoints of impression evaluation and psychophysiological indices. The experiment is carried out to explore the relationship between impression evaluation and psychophysiological indices obtained from biological signals. We analyze the latency and amplitude of EEG event-related potential P300 and N170 when we show the three different illustrations which are the cat having realistic eyes, the cat having simplified eyes and the cat having eyes of intermediate expression. In addition, we also analyze them when we show other three different illustrations which are the cat having a clear outline, the cat having no outline and the cat having an ambiguous outline. In both experiment, we use not only cat illustrations but also tiger illustrations. As a result, it suggests there is a correlation between part of impression evaluation and the latency and amplitude of EEG event-related potential. The expression to create a positive impression is different depending on whether cats or tigers. This study shows that differences in expression might lead a positive impression and we should need to select the expression of illustrations depending on the subject of the illustration.