VisionWay Accessibility

July 14, 2026 updated by: Ohio State University

VisionWay: Accessibility-Aware Path Selection for Wayfinding

The challenge of outdoor wayfinding, critical for People with Visual Impairments (PVI), consists in helping users safely walk to a pre-determined nearby destination. The main focus of existing solutions from research and industry is to leverage the user's smartphone to receive safe moving directions either from a remote operator or smart app. However, multiple paths may exist to connect users with their destination, each one with unique characteristics in terms of accessibility and safety. Unfortunately, little to no attention has been paid in helping PVI decide, before even starting to walk, which path to take based on their accessibility. Thus, a barrier identified is that the followed path may not be accessible because sidewalk features such as potholes, uncontrolled crossing, interrupted sidewalks, and objects are not known in advance. The investigators' goal is to develop a mobile live, local, outside map framework called VisionWay, customized for PVI-user as a wayfinding tool to analyze, before starting to walk, the accessibility of candidate paths and choose one to the destination.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Existing solutions include cognitive maps which can help PVI confidently walk in known locations but need to be built on experience, and thus cannot be used to determine the best path towards an unfamiliar location. In fact, previous research has found that PVI, to reduce stress and increase safety, before embarking on a new journey need to be informed about whether a specific path has a paved sidewalk, street crossing point, controlled or uncontrolled crosswalk, stairs, obstacles, and potholes. Knowing these characteristics ahead of time, i.e., before starting to walk, can help PVI make choices on which path to take, which is particularly beneficial in unfamiliar environments. Trained Orientation and Mobility (O&M) specialists often provide high-quality in-person help for PVI to walk in unfamiliar areas, notifying them of upcoming obstacles and turns on the path. However, a shortage of qualified specialists has increased the demand for remote instructors by leveraging smartphones as pointing devices. For example, services such as TappyGuide and WeAssist work by sharing the PVI's destination as well as smartphone camera and GPS data with a remote human operator, who can then consult a map to voice-guide the PVI to their destination. On the other hand, the remote directions depend on the availability of the remote operators. To alleviate this dependency, new technologies leverage mobile computing and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to sense the environment for obstacles and provide real-time navigation directions through audio or haptic feedback. For example, WeWalk's smart cane provides basic sensing and smart features to support navigation and obstacle detection alert; as part of USDOT's Inclusive Design Challenge, MPI Giudice, MPI Doore, and Co-I Fink developed the Autonomous Vehicle Assistant (AVA) app, which helps PVI safely walk towards an autonomous vehicle and accurately reach its door handle. Some recent projects target indoor localization and navigation or leverage augmented reality and haptic feedback to aid obstacle avoidance during navigation and reduce veering. While most funded projects focus on providing real-time navigation guidance given a certain path to follow, the reality is that more than one path may exist to reach a certain destination, especially in an outdoor context. Thus, they cannot help PVI and remote operators choose the best path to follow, which requires creating accessibility maps. The problem of creating accessibility maps has been widely studied for people in wheelchairs, whose main challenge is to ensure availability of accessible entrances or curbs on the path. WheelMap is an example of such a tool, but it does not help PVI, whose definition of accessible path can be quite different. For example, a wheelchair user may find it less problematic to handle an uncontrolled zebra crossing than someone with profound or total vision impairment. The most related solution focusing on finding accessible paths for PVI is that of Cohen and Dalyot, which leverages accessibility information already available in OpenStreetMap to evaluate the accessibility of different paths for totally blind users. However, it has three limitations. First, OpenStreetMap, similar to Google Maps and Apple's Maps, does not provide important information about many harmful and beneficial sidewalk features affecting accessibility such as tactile tech, potholes, tree branches, or sidewalk restrictions. Second, it remains unclear how to describe each path's features to PVI for selection. Third, it only focuses on blind pedestrians while the definition of accessibility and the features affect it can vary widely across severe, profound, and totally blind PVI.The goal of this project is to involve PVI with different impairment severity and mobility aids in the development of VisionWay, a mobile/cloud framework that helps PVI select a pedestrian path towards their destination based on three main innovations. This study focuses on the first of these by utilizing a user study designed to reveal how various sidewalk features affect accessibility and how to design an accessibility model able to estimate it. To address this challenge, barrier, and achieve our goal, the investigators assembled a team of men, women, trainees, and members who have lived experience with vision impairment (VI). Our strengths include engineering, computer science, human factor engineering, mixed methods research, human-computer interaction for PVI, clinicians including low vision and orientation and mobility specialists (OMS), as well as team members and participants with VI. The investigators' goal is to develop a mobile live, local, outside map framework called VisionWay, customized for PVI-user as a wayfinding tool to analyze, before starting to walk, the accessibility of candidate paths and choose one to the destination. The investigators designed aims for R61 technology development and feasibility. (Aim 1) Collect survey data and observations in pilot pathways to define and validate a PVI-facing metric to measure and detect the accessibility of a walk path from static and dynamic imagery.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
100

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • At least 18 years old
  • Able to provide informed consent
  • Vision worse than 20/200, encompassing PVI with severe and profound impairment as well as total blindness.

Group 1 Inclusion:

- PVI meeting general inclusion criteria and without mobility aids

Group 2 Inclusion:

- PVI meeting general inclusion criteria and who use a cane as a mobility aid

Group 3 Inclusion:

- PVI meeting general inclusion criteria and who use guide dogs.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Conditions that prevent safe ambulation that include, but are not limited to, neuromuscular disorder, post-operative state (such as orthopedic surgeries or cardiac surgeries), balance issues, history of falls in the last 6 months, or at the discretion of the investigator.
  • Use of walker or wheelchair

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Other
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Recorded walks
The study team will record videos of a subset of users walking on selected paths on campus. Participants may be presented with the maps ahead of the walk. Such videos may include video recordings from the perspective of the study team monitoring the participant. Additionally, personal recording devices such as GoPro/action cameras, or recording eyeglasses may be provided to the participant to record walks from their perspective. From the preselected paths, the set and order will be randomized between participants. The study team will prompt participants after each path to identify and describe path features that affect accessibility, as well as to provide a perceived accessibility score (on a scale of 1 to 5, where 5 is highly accessible). The video recording may include audio description of these relevant sidewalk features and the score. The research team member will record their observations of the walking paths as well.
Behavioral: walking path
Participants will be asked to walk a defined pathway through campus. From the preselected paths, the set and order will be randomized between participants.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
PVI accessibility on sidewalks
Time Frame: For a period over 2 hours
Primary objectives are to collect prospective data in PVI groups to define which sidewalk features affect accessibility and how to design an accessibility model able to estimate accessibility. Twenty sidewalk (path) features were scored on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = not important, 5 = very important), and participants indicated the number of additional minutes they would be willing to walk to access a route containing each feature (5-point scale. 1 = up to one minute, to 5 = five or more minutes). A combined score for each feature was determined by summing the two values (for each feature) to generate an overall priority ranking. Higher scores indicate a greater perceived importance.
For a period over 2 hours

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Ohio State University

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
University of Maine

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Study Director: Marco Brocanelli, PhD, Ohio State University
  • Principal Investigator: Sayoko Moroi, MD, PhD, Ohio State University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
February 26, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
September 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
September 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
July 9, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
July 14, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
July 20, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
July 20, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
July 14, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • STUDY20251838

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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