An Exploratory Study on the Usability and Features of Indoor Navigation Apps for the Blind and Visually Impaired

In the past, the accessibility and usability of various indoor navigation apps and systems based on different modalities and technologies have been investigated. However, most of this research is based on prototypes developed and evaluated as part of research initiatives. There is a lack of research that explores the usability of indoor navigation from the perspective of Blind and Visually Impaired (BVI) users. To address this gap, we conducted two studies. The first study evaluated eight indoor navigation apps and included a survey to gather the preferences of BVI users on improving the usability and features of indoor navigation apps. The second study focused on understanding the specific needs that the current interface is missing and identifying the gaps between the research and actual implementation. The findings emphasized users' preferences for external consistency, layout customization, contextual information, and wayfinding abilities in indoor navigation apps. Overall, this study proposes recommendations for improving the usability and features of indoor navigation apps through a user-centered approach.