The Application of a Tactile Way-finding Belt to Facilitate Navigation in Older Persons

A wearable belt has recently been developed which may have the capability to facilitate navigation. Through a series of four, small, vibrating motors adjusted to the cardinal positions of front, back, right, and left, the belt provides the wearer with vibrotactile signals indicating the direction and distance to their destination. The study investigates the efficacy of this system in aiding the way-finding ability of older persons who exhibit deficiencies in memory dependent navigation relative to younger persons. In the first of two experiments, healthy younger and older participants traveled routes of various complexities with a priori route knowledge that was acquired either passively or through verbal landmark directions. In the second experiment the two groups navigated routes without a priori route knowledge but belt assistance. The results of the first experiment confirm that older persons generate more waypoint errors than younger persons, F (1, 16) = 15.8, p = .001. That belt assistance is an efficient means of providing route information for both groups was demonstrated by the lack of directional errors made by participants in the second experiment. The advantage provided by the belt was maintained as the complexity of the routes increased. The results are discussed in terms of the system’s potential for those with way-finding difficulties, such as those associated with visual impairment and Alzheimer’s disease.