Article

Troubles visuels
Abstract : A repeated-measures design with block randomization was used for the study, in
which 14 adults with visual impairments attempted to detect three different
vehicles: a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) with an artificially generated sound
(Vehicle Sound for Pedestrians [VSP]), an HEV without the VSP, and a comparable
internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle. The VSP vehicle (mean +/- standard
deviation [SD] = 38.3 +/- 14.8 m) was detected at a significantly farther
distance than the HEV (mean +/- SD = 27.5 +/- 11.5 m), t = 4.823, p < 0.001, but
no significant difference existed between the VSP and ICE vehicles (mean +/- SD =
34.5 +/- 14.3 m), t = 1.787, p = 0.10. Despite the overall sound level difference
between the two test sites (parking lot = 48.7 dBA, roadway = 55.1 dBA), no
significant difference in detection distance between the test sites was observed,
F(1, 13) = 0.025, p = 0.88. No significant interaction was found between the
vehicle type and test site,
F(1.31, 16.98) = 0.272, p = 0.67. The findings of the
study may help us understand how adding an artificially generated sound to an HEV
could affect some of the orientation and mobility tasks performed by blind pedestrians.

Langue : ANGLAIS