Bipedal guidance system and method

Claim 1

A bipedal guidance system for permitting a person whose vision is impaired to ascertain his or her location within an area having boundaries and a walking surface comprising: a first set of tactual stimuli generally continuously distributed along a first portion of the walking surface extending from the boundaries inwardly for a first predetermined distance, all of the tactual stimuli of the first set having substantially the same physical characteristics; a second set of tactual stimuli generally continuously distributed along a second portion of the walking surface extending inwardly from the first portion of the walking surface for a second predetermined distance, all of the tactual stimuli of the second set having substantially the same physical characteristics; a third set of tactual stimuli generally continuously distributed along a third portion of the walking surface extending inwardly from the second portion of the walking surface for a third predeterminend distance, all of the tactual stimuli of the third set having substantially the same physical characteristics, the physical characteristics of the stimuli of each of the three sets differing so that the three sets of stimuli are distinguishable from each other by the touch of a person traversing the walking surface, the first, second and third predetermined distances being interrelated to form a tactual gradient so that by determining any of the distances a person whose vision is impaired is able to determine the spatial dimension of the area; and a fourth set of tactual stimuli generally continuously distributed over a fourth portion of the walking surface, the fourth set of tactual stimuli being positioned to indicate a particular obstacle or landmark.

Claim 5

A method for guiding a person whose vision is impaired along an area having boundaries and a walking surface comprising: providing a first set of tactual stimuli generally continuously distributed along a first portion of the walking surface, extending from the boundaries inwardly for a first predetermined distance; providing a second set of tactual stimuli generally continuously distributed along a second portion of the walking surface extending inwardly from the first portion of the walking surface for a second predetermined distance; providing a third set of tactual stimuli generally continuously distributed along a third portion of the walking surface extending inwardly from the second portion of the walking surface for a third predetermined distance, the physical characteristics of the stimuli of each of the three sets differing in a predetermined manner; training a person whose vision is impaired to discriminate the tactual gradient formed by the sets of tactual stimuli and to distinguish between the three sets of stimuli by touch as the person traverses the walking surface to permit the person to ascertain his or her location within the area and the spatial dimensions of the area; providing a fourth set of tactual stimuli generally continuously distributed along a fourth portion of the walking surface, to indicate an obstacle or landmark; and training the person to distinguish between the fourth set of tactual stimuli and the other three sets of the tactual stimulus gradient by touch as the person is traversing the walking surface to permit the person to identify the location of the obstacle or landmark.

Claim 6

A method for guiding a person whose vision is impaired along an area having boundaries and a walking surface comprising: providing a first set of tactual stimuli generally continuously distributed along a first portion of the walking surface, extending from the boundaries inwardly for a first predetermined distance; providing a second set of tactual stimuli generally continuously distributed along a second portion of the walking surface extending inwardly from the first portion of the walking surface for a second predetermined distance; providing a third set of tactual stimuli generally continuously distributed along a third portion of the walking surface extending inwardly from the second portion of the walking surface for a third predetermined distance, the physical characteristics of the stimuli of each of the three sets differing in a predetermined manner; training a person whose vision is impaired to discriminate the tactual gradient formed by the sets of tactual stimuli and to distinguish between the three sets of stimuli by touch as the person traverses the walking surface to permit the person to ascertain his or her location within the area and the spatial dimensions of the area; providing a fourth set of tactual stimuli generally continuously distributed along a fourth portion of the walking surface, to indicate an obstacle or landmark; and training the person to distinguish between the fourth set of tactual stimuli and the other three sets of the tactual stimulus gradient by touch as the person is traversing the walking surface to permit the person to identify the location of the obstacle or landmark.