Design and structure of sightseeing verbal maps：A case study in Shanghai, China.

Abstract: Enabling independent mobility for visually impaired individuals is crucial for fostering social inclusion and enhancing quality of life. While existing electronic travel aid systems often rely on pre-installed roadside infrastructure or require prior physical visits to unfamiliar locations, such dependencies significantly restrict real-world adaptability and accessibility. To overcome these limitations, this study proposes a novel enabling technology: an at-home simulation system based on sightseeing verbal maps (A comprehensive breakdown of the sightseeing verbal maps' structure will be presented in the main text). By integrating spatially encoded audio guidance with context-rich environmental sounds, the system's video component synchronously presents dynamic video content that visually simulates the intended navigation route. This combined audiovisual tool is designed to offer highly immersive virtual reconstructions of outdoor environments, providing scalable and accessible preparatory training that supports spatial learning and navigational confidence. This preliminary study adopted a qualitative research design to evaluate a prototype system that was originally developed in Japan but was linguistically and culturally adapted for Chinese users. Through purposive sampling, seven Chinese international students residing in Japan were recruited. Data collection involved remote semi-structured interviews conducted via Zoom, each lasting approximately 60 minutes. Interview transcripts underwent thematic analysis to identify key patterns related to (1) cross-cultural usability challenges of the adapted system, (2) behavioral adaptation strategies in unfamiliar environments, and (3) user perceptions of simulated mobility training scenarios. Three central themes emerged from the analysis: navigation accuracy, cultural engagement, and sound design. Participants emphasized the importance of precise and timely auditory instructions for effective wayfinding, while also highlighting the need for culturally relevant points of interest and contextualized soundscapes that enhance environmental awareness and emotional comfort. These findings underscore the necessity for culturally adaptive design in auditory interfaces and context-rich narration within sightseeing verbal maps. This study represents the first step toward cross-cultural validation of sightseeing verbal maps beyond Japan, demonstrating their feasibility and acceptability for Chinese users and urban contexts. It addresses a critical gap in the localization of assistive technologies for visually impaired populations. Focusing on Chinese international students provided valuable insights into transnational accessibility needs during the system’s early development phase. Although limited by a small and region-specific sample, the study establishes a foundation for future work that should include expanded cross-cultural testing, diverse user groups, and technical optimization of audio balancing to improve performance under real-world noise conditions.

Keywords: Sightseeing verbal maps, Visually impaired, Universal design, Voice navigation

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1006910

Cite this paper:

​