Visual semantic parameterization - To enhance blind user perception for indoor navigation

This paper presents a novel approach of utilizing the floor plan maps posted on the buildings to infer a semantic plan that aids in the navigation of a visually impaired person. The extracted landmarks such as room numbers, doors, etc act as a parameter to infer the way points to each room. This provides a mental mapping of the environment to design a navigation framework for future use. A human motion model is used to predict a path based on how real humans ambulate towards a goal by avoiding obstacles. Travel route is presented in terms of blind understandable units, which is achieved by accurate estimation of the user´s location and confirmed by extracting the landmarks posted on the doors. The results show that it is feasible to make a blind user to travel independently by providing the constraints required for safe navigation.