Scenario7


 * Scenario 7 ** **The Visually Impaired**



Rose is blind. She is apprehensive about using escalators because she fears she is going to fall off and hurt herself. Watching her use the escalators, it was obvious there were lack of non-visual cues to assist her in navigating her movement on escalators and also finding how she can gain and retain her balance while on the escalator. Her most critical point of challenges is when she tries to get on and off the escalator. She doesn’t know when the ride begins and ends and she is always in shock when she trips at each point. From watching her and also discussing with her we devised a number of features that might improve her safety.

Auditory Signals informing her when she approaches the entry and exit points on the escalator.
 * M**ust Have:

Brails/ differentiate pattern on the escalator’s hand bars informing her that the ride is coming to an end.
 * S**hould Have:

Safer materials on the escalator eg. replace metal grids with softer materials such as reinforced rubber.
 * C**ould Have:

Reduced escalator speed at entry and exit points
 * W**ant to Have:

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