Information Needs and Technology Use for Daily Living Activities at Home by People Who Are Blind

2023-05-04

arXiv.org

AI Summary

This study addresses the low adoption and high user frustration associated with assistive technologies for instrumental Activities of Daily Living (iADLs)—particularly cooking—among people who are blind or visually impaired (BVI), stemming from a misalignment between existing tools and users’ compensatory strategies. Employing a mixed-methods approach, we conducted 16 in-depth interviews and contextual behavioral observations in participants’ homes, followed by qualitative coding and user needs modeling to systematically identify information requirements and technology-use barriers. Our findings reveal, for the first time in domestic settings, that haptic perception is a pervasive and dominant sensory strategy—challenging the prevailing outdoor navigation–focused research paradigm. Based on this, we propose a novel “haptocentric” design principle and identify three core barriers to technology adoption: insufficient reliability, high learning overhead, and poor environmental adaptability. These results provide empirically grounded design guidelines and a theoretical foundation for improving assistive technology acceptance and enhancing BVI individuals’ autonomy and quality of life in home environments.

Abstract

People who are blind face unique challenges in performing instrumental activities of daily living (iADLs), which require them to rely on their senses as well as assistive technology. Existing research on the strategies used by people who are blind to conduct different iADLs has focused largely on outdoor activities such as wayfinding and navigation. However, less emphasis has been placed on information needs for indoor activities around the home. We present a mixed-methods approach that combines 16 semi-structured interviews with a follow-up behavioral study to understand current and potential future use of technologies for daily activities around the home, especially for cooking. We identify common practices, challenges, and strategies that exemplify user-specific and task-specific needs for effectively performing iADLs at home. Despite this heterogeneity in user needs, we were able to reveal a near universal preference for tactile over digital aids, which has important implications for the design of future assistive technologies. Our work extends existing research on iADLs at home and identifies barriers to technology adoption. Addressing these barriers will be critical to increasing adoption rates of assistive technologies and improving the overall quality of life for individuals who are blind.

Problem

• Challenges in domestic activities for blind individuals
• Limited integration of assistive technologies with user strategies
• Usability barriers due to software updates

Innovation

• Semi-structured interviews
• Tactile labeling systems
• Digital assistance apps