Understanding the Physical Safety, Security, and Privacy Concerns of People with Visual Impairments

With the help of various assistive devices, people with visual impairments can live their lives with greater independence both online and offline. Yet significant work remains to understand and address their safety, security, and privacy concerns, especially in the physical, offline world. The authors investigate the physical safety, security, and privacy concerns of people with visual impairments through two sets of interviews, and find out how they manage these concerns and how assistive technologies could help. The research also proposes design considerations for camera-based devices that would help people with visual impairments monitor for potential threats around them.