Sunflower: A Tactile Navigation System for Low-Vision Environments

Abstract

In navigating 3D space, we typically use vision more than any other sense. To see a space is usually the quickest way to orient ourselves and reach our destination. However, there are times in which our vision is too impaired for optical understanding of a space. This is a conceptual exploration of tactile navigation in low-vision scenarios—particularly high-stress, high-stimuli, or complicated environments—through the use of a wearable sensor mesh network called Sunflower. It is targeted at individuals such as firefighters, parents of young children, and directionally-challenged individuals who regularly deal with these situations.