Purpose

This paper explores the challenges that people who use wheeled mobility devices face navigating unfamiliar pedestrian environments. The intent is to understand their decisions during the planning and travel phases and to compare these decisions and experiences between mobility device users.

Methods

Fourteen mobility device users (4 manual wheelchair, 6 power wheelchair, and 4 scooter users) completed surveys that captured data about socio-economic and disability status, mobility device skills and confidence, and wayfinding abilities. As part of a wheeling interview, participants planned trips to three destinations in an unfamiliar urban setting. They wore a GoPro camera affixed to their head and carried a global positioning system device as they wheeled to each destination. During each trip, participants answered questions regarding their decisions and experiences. At the end of each route, participants rated the physical and mental demand of the trip and rated their own performance using the NASA-TLX questionnaire. They also completed wayfinding skills tests of their spatial orientation and ability to estimate distance and slope. Transcripts of the videos were coded and analyzed using interpretive description. Spatial and qualitative data were then uploaded into a geographical information system to identify patterns in decision making and experiences and compare across mobility devices.

Results

The findings highlight the complex and dynamic challenges faced by wheeled mobility device users and the implications on their mobility. The findings emphasize the relationship between the individual, the mobility device, and the environment to shape navigational experiences. Manual wheelchair users appeared to struggle more with navigation because accessibility issues diverted their attention away from maintaining orientation and heading.

Conclusions

Wheeled mobility device users face challenges navigating unfamiliar environments that make reaching destinations difficult which may deter community participation. Environments that incorporate their diverse and unique requirements should be considered in urban design and research.

中文翻译：

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在陌生的行人环境中使用轮式移动设备的人的导航行为的探索

目的

本文探讨了使用轮式移动设备的人们在陌生的行人环境中所面临的挑战。目的是了解他们在计划和旅行阶段的决策，并比较移动设备用户之间的决策和经验。

方法

14个移动设备用户（4个手动轮椅，6个电动轮椅和4个踏板车用户）完成了调查，收集了有关社会经济和残疾状况，移动设备技能和自信心以及寻路能力的数据。作为轮换访谈的一部分，参与者计划在陌生的城市环境中前往三个目的地。他们戴着固定在其头部的GoPro摄像机，并在驶向每个目的地时携带全球定位系统设备。在每次旅行中，参与者回答有关他们的决定和经历的问题。在每条路线的末尾，参与者使用NASA-TLX问卷对旅途的身心需求进行了评分，并对自己的表现进行了评分。他们还完成了关于其空间方位以及估计距离和坡度的能力的寻路技能测试。视频的成绩单被编码并使用解释性描述进行了分析。然后将空间和定性数据上载到地理信息系统中，以识别决策和经验模式，并在移动设备之间进行比较。

结果

调查结果突出了轮式移动设备用户所面临的复杂而动态的挑战，及其对移动性的影响。研究结果强调了个人，移动设备和环境之间的关系，以塑造导航体验。手动轮椅使用者似乎在导航方面更加挣扎，因为可访问性问题将他们的注意力从保持方向和方向转移了。

结论

轮式移动设备用户在不熟悉的环境中导航面临挑战，这使到达目的地变得困难，这可能阻止社区参与。在城市设计和研究中应考虑到包含其多样化和独特要求的环境。