| Summary: | A review is given of theories of blind mobility, and of efforts
to obtain objective data for evaluating sensory aids for the
blind. Techniques are developed for making objective measurements of locomotor control performance - an important subset of
mobility skills. It is shown that, using mobile subjects performing simple tasks in the controlled environment of a large laboratory, lined to suitable instrumentation, fine distinctions between
different levels of performance can be made. A scale of locomotor control
performance is developed. comparing a wide range of skill levels between
normally sighted and "random" performance (with no auditory
or visual feedback). Objective comparisons can be made between
various mobility aids within this framework.
Techniques are developed whereby mobility aids using auditory
or tactile displays can be simulated in real time using mobile
subjects - a long - standing research goal in blind mobility.
The performance evaluation techniques can be applied to the simulated aids, allowing investigation of the effects on performance of adjustments
in aid cue parameters.
By viewing the mobile human as a control system performing well-
defined tasks, objective data can be obtained to supplement the more
subjective judgements made in the outside environment, and a deeper
insight into the problems of blind mobility is made possible.
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