Travel and Information Processing by Blind People: A New Three-Component Model

This paper presents a three-component model of the travel processes of blind and partially sighted people. Significant features of the model include the fact that it is based on a process involving information processing and route and spatial learning rather than one-off journeys. The model has the following three components: (1) the travel process i.e. the activities which take place on a particular trip; (2) information processing to obtain or update the cognitive or mental map; and (3) the cognitive or mental map of a route or space. The model is validated using data from 100 interviews with blind and partially sighted people in France, Italy, Poland, Spain and the UK. The use of the model in developing new travel aids was discussed and the validation data was used to investigate the impact of different types of aid use on the travel process, as well as the differences between the travel behaviours of participants based on gender, visual status and country.