Defined Spaces: Inside Vehicles
When a blind individual rides in a vehicle it is a time of isolation. There are vibrations and ambient sounds, but no information is gathered about the environment being passed. There is no control over the vehicle, only a sense of moments passing as if in a time machine. Passengers are often restrained by seat belts. Movement is restricted since vehicular spaces are generally small. Travel in a vehicle would be much more enjoyable if the blind individual could access information about the environment being passed, and if they had some control over the movement pattern of the vehicle.
Access to the Environment from a Moving Vehicle
With the advent of GPS technology for the blind traveler and with wireless access to the internet, isolation inside vehicles is no longer the rule. Sophisticated blind travelers can receive information in a steady stream about the landmarks they are passing, buildings and street names, parks, and other points of interest.
Control and Movement Patterns of Vehicles
GPS linked to location based data provides the blind traveler with knowledge about present location, direction of travel, street names, intersections, speed of travel, and distance and time to reach a destination.