Visual Impairment and Smart Cities: Perspectives on Mobility

Abstract

Introduction:Visually impaired people face many problems when it comes to urban mobility, even though law guarantees their rights. Many of them are able to guide well themselves using white canes and tactile devices, but they still needs some help from the others to successfully complete their journey or assignment, which reduces their autonomy or even their safety. When using public transportation, the visually impaired report lack of awareness and sensitivity of people in general. Improvements of labor field are also important in order to evidence the value of the visually challenged manpower to economy, exercising social inclusion and meliorating their self-esteem. Thus, the idea of a smart city is extremely relevant, because it characterizes progress of infrastructure and services using technology, making city administration, education, public security, health service, housing and transportation even more connected and efficient. The purpose of this study is to show that the combination between concepts related to mobility of unsighted people and to smart cities results in benefits for both the visually impaired and the society.Discussion: Improving visually impaired autonomy in mobility gathering concepts based on smart cities. Conclusion:The fusion of concepts related to visual impairment and smart cities is extremely beneficial for autonomy, mobility and economy.