Designing for Blind Users: Guidelines for Developing Mobile Apps for Supporting Navigation of Blind People on Public Transports

Abstract

This chapter covers the guidelines developers should follow when creating mobile applications to support visually impaired people in their use of public transports. Technology has evolved in a remarkable fashion, mobile applications being the perfect example of a resource that has been solving problems for a vast array of users, including visually impaired people. These apps hold tremendous potential seeing as they present an accessible, multi-functioned, and cost-effective solution to the mobility issues impacting visually impaired people. In order to identify the best practices in the development of these apps, one should focus on the particularities, limitations, and concerns of visually impaired people regarding their mobility, orientation, and navigation on public transports. It's equally important to understand the existing technology and how these users interact with it, so that we can optimize the user experience, the accessibility, and usability in future endeavors.