Research-Embodied Spatial Guidance for Non-visual Navigation & Accessibility System
Intro
This project investigates how non-visual cues influence spatial navigation and gait stability for visually impaired individuals. Through fieldwork at the Beijing Blind Library, the study combines interviews, behavioral observation, and full-body inertial motion capture (IMU) to analyze how different guidance conditions affect movement, balance, and spatial interaction. Quantitative analysis integrates statistical modeling and sequence-based machine learning to identify phase-dependent patterns in gait dynamics. The results reveal how tactile, auditory, and environmental cues redistribute stability across body segments and movement phases. Based on these findings, the project proposes the “Left-hand Guidance” principle — a spatial design strategy that emphasizes continuous tactile edges, multi-sensory redundancy, and predictable navigation structures to support accessible and stable movement in complex environments.
Deliverables:
Framer Development
We investigate how spatial environments can be understood and designed through embodied interaction beyond vision. By combining computational analysis with human-centered spatial design, we explore how multi-sensory cues shape movement, perception, and stability in complex environments.
Shiqi Dai, Jiaxiao Wang, Prof. Xiaoqing Cheng
