Development of indoor walking guidance flooring mat for the visually impaired, non-visually impaired, and for the use of wheeled equipment

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K20126
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 90010:Design-related
• Research Institution: Kindai University
• Principal Investigator: YAMADA Takashi 近畿大学, 生物理工学部, 講師 (70779826)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 誘導 / 床材 / 認識しやすさ / 歩行しやすさ / 歩行実験 / 走行実験

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this research is to design and produce a walking guidance floor mat that can create an environment where visually impaired and non-visually impaired people, as well as wheeled devices, do not become barriers to each other. This study aims to reduce personnel costs by enabling visually impaired users to reach their destinations in buildings without having to be guided by staff from the reception desk or ticket counter, and to improve user convenience in hospitals, welfare facilities, and other facilities where an unspecified number of pedestrians and devices run (e.g., airports, train stations, and other public facilities).

Free Research Field

建築計画、プロダクトデザイン

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究における成果の学術的意義や社会的意義は、以下の通りである。
１．視覚障害者および晴眼者、車輪がある機器が走行する場所においても、お互いの障壁とならない利用環境を作り出すことができる。２．受付や窓口から職員などによる誘導を行わなくても、視覚障害をもつ利用者が目的地まで行くことができ、施設の人的コスト削減につながる。３．病院や福祉施設の他、不特定多数の歩行者や機器が走行する施設内（例えば、空港や駅舎）において施設利用者の利便性を向上できる可能性がある。