Closing the Gap: Designing for the Last-Few-Meters Wayfinding Problem for People with Visual Impairments

Despite the major role of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) as a navigation tool for people with visual impairments (VI), a crucial missing aspect of point-to-point navigation with these systems is the last-few-meters wayfinding problem. Due to GPS inaccuracy and inadequate map data, systems often bring a user to the vicinity of a destination but not to the exact location, causing challenges such as difficulty locating building entrances or a specific storefront from a series of stores. In this paper, we study this problem space in two parts: (1) A formative study (N=22) to understand challenges, current resolution techniques, and user needs; and (2) A design probe study (N=13) using a novel, vision-based system called Landmark AI to understand how technology can better address aspects of this problem. Based on these investigations, we articulate a design space for systems addressing this challenge, along with implications for future systems to support precise navigation for people with VI.