Smartphone Navigation Support for Blind and Visually Impaired People - A Comprehensive Analysis of Potentials and Opportunities

Smartphones are indispensable tools for many people for various assistive tasks. They are equipped with different sensors that provide data on motion, location and the environment. This paper explores the various sensors and output modalities existing in a smartphone to make it useful as a navigation support device for blind and visually impaired users. In addition, different usecase scenarios were also scrutinized where the potential of a smartphone as a navigation device can be explored further. The technology holds potential for the implementation of successful navigation support system by utilizing the various sensors and features existing in a smartphone. This in-depth analysis of the various possibilities with a smartphone in the navigation support system design might become useful in the further research in the domain.