MyWay: a 3D and audio-enhanced transportation learning kit for the visually impaired teenagers

Independent travel is crucial for the socialization of visually impaired teenagers but is deficient in current Orientation and Mobility education from school for the blind. We developed MyWay, a modular 3D transportation learning kit, through a co-designing process with both experts and students from a school for the blind. MyWay consists of modules with Braille and tactile paving, coupled with spatial audio differentiated into information, environment, and explanation. With these realistic modules, we can build complex multi-layered spatial public transportation scenarios (e.g., taking a bus, hailing a taxi, and riding a subway) to facilitate comprehension of transportation infrastructure and provide directional guidance. We evaluate MyWay through a three-round evaluation with 25 participants from school for the blind. Our findings reveal how the tangible learning process assists teenagers in comprehending transit regulations, what hinders and how to improve their spatial cognition, familiarity and courage with independent travel.