The Wayfinding Project
Wayfinding refers to information systems that guide people through physical environments and enhance their understanding and experience of the space. Wayfinding activities include spatial orientation, navigation and destination identification – for individuals experiencing vision loss or other disabilities these components are important to consider for successful navigation of buildings, facilities, or pedestrian spaces. Given its importance, it is not surprising that barriers related to aspects of wayfinding are frequently identified in complex environments such as within transportation facilities, or public pedestrian spaces, or why standards specific to wayfinding are currently being developed across Canada.
Traditional wayfinding approaches may include elements such as signage or lighting. While these elements are critically important to standardize and meet the needs of people with disabilities, the emergence of wayfinding technologies offer a new solution because they can be generalized for many users or uniquely refined to support specific requirements . Since technology development is dynamic and fast-paced, the standardization of wayfinding technologies may be challenging.
Our research aims to:
1) understand the acceptance and use of current wayfinding technologies by people with disabilities
2) Develop a set of recommendations for the inclusion of wayfinding technologies within Canadian accessibility standards
Project funded by:
Accessibility Standards Canada Grants & Contributions Program:
Project website: https://alisonnovak.wixsite.com/wayfinding
Project output: Forthcoming
