Where's my stuff?: design and evaluation of a mobile system for locating lost items for the visually impaired

Finding lost items is a common problem for the visually impaired and is something that computing technology can help alleviate. In this paper, we present the design and evaluation of a mobile solution, called FETCH, for allowing the visually impaired to track and locate objects they lose frequently but for which they do not have a specific strategy for tracking. FETCH uses devices the user already owns, such as their cell phone or laptop, to locate objects around their house. Results from a focus group with visually impaired users informed the design of the system. We then studied the usability of a laptop solution in a laboratory study and studied the usability and usefulness of the system through a one-month deployment and diary study. These studies demonstrate that FETCH is usable and useful, but there is still room for improvement. Categories and Subject Descriptors H.5.2 [User Interfaces]: User-centered design, Prototyping; K.4.2 [Social Issues]: Assistive technologies for person...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2006
• Where: ASSETS
• Authors: Julie A. Kientz, Shwetak N. Patel, Arwa Z. Tyebkhan, Brian Gane, Jennifer Wiley, Gregory D. Abowd
• Keywords: ASSETS 2006, Emerging Technology, Fetch, Keywords Assistive Technology, Visually Impaired