Introduction

Abstract

The traditional concern of those who have been involved in issues of electronic spatial sensory aids for the blind and visually impaired has been with the technological and engineering side of the question: What devices can be created and produced that will deliver to the visually impaired traveler information about the structure of the spatial environment and the location of obstacles? More recently, there has been recognition that the characteristics of the potential user of such devices may have as much bearing on the successful use of such devices as the engineering and technical aspects. These user characteristics include important questions of perceptual and cognitive capability.