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Abstract
Purpose: Visual impairment poses significant challenges in daily life, especially when navigating unfamiliar environments, resulting in inequalities and reduced quality of life. This study aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of the needs and perspectives of visually impaired people in sports-related contexts through surveys and focus groups, and to understand whether their needs are being met by current technological solutions.
Materials and methods: To accomplish this, opinions gathered from focus groups and interviews were compared to the technological solutions found in the literature. Since many unmet needs were identified, participants from associations and organizations were asked to identify key characteristics for the development of a robot guide. The results underscored the paramount importance of an easy-to-use guide that offers accurate and personalized assistance. Participants expressed a strong desire for advanced features such as object recognition and navigation in complex environments, as well as adaptability to the user’s speed while providing the necessary safety features to ensure a high level of autonomy.
Results: This research serves as a bridge between technological advances and the needs of the visually impaired, contributing to a more accessible and inclusive society. By addressing the unique challenges faced by the visually impaired individuals and tailoring technology to meet their needs, this study takes a significant step toward reducing disparities and improving the independence and quality of life for this community.
Conclusions: As technology continues to advance, it has the potential to be a powerful tool in breaking down barriers and fostering a world where everyone, regardless of their visual ability, can navigate the world with confidence and ease.
IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION
Inclusive design: Recognizing the importance of incorporating the unique requirements and perspectives of visually impaired individuals can guide the development of rehabilitation technology and services, ensuring they effectively support daily activities and active participation in sports and physical pursuits.
Tailored-assistive technology: Understanding the specific needs of visually impaired individuals with regards to assistive technology, such as dependable robotic guides and essential features, can inform the design and customization of rehabilitation aids to enhance mobility and independence.
Promising technologies: Exploring promising technologies like Aira, Be My Eyes, RoboCart, and Wayband can inspire the integration of these innovations into rehabilitation programs, facilitating better orientation, mobility, and accessibility for individuals with visual impairments.
Continued research and development: Emphasizing the necessity for ongoing research and development efforts underscores the importance of advancing rehabilitation solutions that effectively address the distinct needs of visually impaired individuals, particularly in navigating unfamiliar environments.
Acknowledgements
We sincerely thank all the participants of the interviews and focus groups for their valuable contributions to this research project. Their insights and perspectives have greatly influenced the development of BUDD-e.
Ethics approval and consent to participate
The Politecnico di Milano Ethics Committee approved all the activities related to the project BUDD-e: Blind-assistive aUtonomous Droid Device (n. 23/2022, 06/06/2022), which were performed according to the ethical principles set out in the Declaration of Helsinki. All participants were informed about data collection purposes and gave written informed consent prior to their participation to both the focus group and the survey.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
Marcello Farina
Marcello Farina received the MSc degree in Electronic Engineering in 2003 and PhD degree in Information Engineering in 2007, both from the Politecnico di Milano. In 2005, he was a visiting student at the Institute for Systems Theory and Automatic Control, Stuttgart, Germany. He is presently Associate Professor at Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano. His research interests include the development of novel control methodologies and application areas such as Assistive Robotics and control of energy supply systems.
Emanuele Lettieri
Emanuele Lettieri holds the position of professor of Value-Based Innovation Management at Politecnico di Milano. His research interests revolve around the intersection of management, technology, and life sciences. He focuses on research areas such as Value-Based Health Care (VBHC), Health Technology Assessment (HTA), Digital Transformation of Health Care, and Foresight and Future-Making in Health Care. Additionally, he serves as the Scientific Director of the Permanent Observatory on Life Science Innovation at Politecnico di Milano.
Tecla Filippi
Tecla Filippi held a master’s degree in Management Engineering from Politecnico di Milano. During her academic journey, she actively participated in projects related to healthcare optimization, furthering her research in healthcare innovation as a Research Fellow at the Department of Management Engineering at Politecnico di Milano. Tecla’s expertise lies in areas such as data analysis, multidisciplinary network management, and organizational strategy.
Francesca Zoccarato
Francesca Zoccarato received the Master’s Degree in Management Engineering from Politecnico di Milano. She is currently a PhD Student at the Department of Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering – Politecnico di Milano. Her main research interests include Digital Transformation of Health Care and Foresight and Future-Making in Health Care and in the Life Science industry.
Paolo Perego
Paolo Perego (Member, IEEE) received the master’s degree in biomedical engineering and PhD degree in design from the Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy, in 2008 and 2015, respectively. Since 2008, he has been with the Design Department, Politecnico di Milano, where he is currently a Contract Researcher. In 2012, he joined the DTI Department, SUPSI, Lugano, Switzerland, as a Visiting Scholar, where he was involved in human–computer interaction research for disabled. He has coauthored more than 100 international articles and conference contributions. His main research focuses on wearable systems, textile sensors, smart materials, and UX design. Dr. Perego is a member of IEEE, and EAI and a Chair of EAI conferences like Mobihealth and Healthwear. He is a coeditor of three books on wearables and a Guest Editor of different special issues on smart material and wearables.
Andrea Di Francesco
Andrea Di Francesco is a dynamic project manager and consultant, brings a strong background in management engineering to his roles. With experience in fast-paced environments, he demonstrates decisive decision-making and creative problem-solving skills. Currently employed at Reply Consulting, Andrea serves as a functional analyst in digital transformation projects. Previously, he worked as an Assistant Professor at Politecnico di Milano and as a Research Fellow and Project Manager at Politecnico di Milano’s E4SPORT Lab. His expertise spans digital innovation, economic and social impact analysis, and managing a range of innovative projects. Andrea’s career reflects his dedication to leveraging technology for social inclusion and fostering innovation.
Giovanni Toletti
Giovanni Toletti, PhD, is an associate professor of Strategy at the Department of Management Engineering at Politecnico di Milano. His research activities deal with three topics: 1) MedTech and HealthTech with particular attention to Digital Healthcare; 2) Foresight, with particular attention to MedTech and HealthTeach; 3) Business planning, in particular for startups and companies changing their business model. He teaches Business Economics and Organisation and Management of Organizations and Projects at the Bachelor and Master of Science degrees of Politecnico di Milano and Strategy and Business Planning at Polimi Graduate School of Management’s master programs and in other masters.