Scientific Quarterly Journal

Using Augmented Reality to Enhance the Nature-Based Tourism Experience for the Blind (Gilan Province in Focus)

Volume 5, Issue 18
Autumn 2024
Pages 14-25

Document Type : Original Research Article

Author

Assistant Professor, Geography and Urban Planning Department, Literature and Humanities Faculty, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

Abstract
Nature tourism, with its unique landscapes and features, can pose numerous challenges, particularly for blind individuals. However, augmented reality (AR), as an emerging technology, offers the potential to provide this group of tourists with unique sensory and visual experiences, enabling an immersive interaction with nature through sensory compensation.
This study focuses on the design and evaluation of an AR system aimed at assisting blind tourists in visualizing objects and spaces associated with nature-based attractions in Gilan Province. Through audio narration and tactile 3D models, the system offers a rich, interactive experience of natural environments for blind individuals. The present research is applied in its purpose and descriptive-qualitative in its methodology. For data collection related to producing audio narration, observation, and note-taking methods were employed. Interviews and closed questionnaires were also used to evaluate the effectiveness of the AR technology. Findings indicated that the optimal type of narration for conveying visual impressions in nature tourism experiences for the blind is the “general-specific” narration. This type of narration effectively conveys visual impressions through informative, relational, and precise sentences about locations, distances, directions, textures, and colors. Additionally, suitable materials for constructing 3D tactile simulators of nature include newspaper coated with real or semi-real substances such as soft sand for simulating beaches, river pebbles for representing elevations, and damp cotton for simulating water.
Based on feedback from the study’s sample group (12 blind individuals who completed their studies at the University of Guilan), the use of AR technology was deemed effective in aiding blind people to visualize natural tourist attractions and enhancing their tourism experience. Among respondents, 58% strongly agreed, 33% agreed, 8% were neutral, and 0% disagreed or strongly disagreed with the system’s impact. This research identifies opportunities and challenges in using AR for sensory compensation in blind tourism and offers practical recommendations for the development of similar technologies in other tourism and recreational areas tailored to the blind community.

Keywords

Subjects
Adler, A. (1964). Superiority and social interest: A collection of late writings (H. L. Ansbacher & R. R. Ansbacher, Eds.). North-western University Press.
Allcca-Alarcón, L., Calagua-Montoya, J., Iparraguirre-Villanueva, O., & Cabanillas-Carbonell, M. (2023). Augmented reality as an option to enhance the tourism experience - A review. International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology, 71(4). https://doi.org/10.14445/22315381/IJETT-V71I4P217
Azuma, R. T. (1997). A survey of augmented reality. Presence: Teleoperators and Virtual Environments, 6(4), 355-385. https://www.cs.unc.edu/~azuma/ARpresence.pdf
Basouli, M. (2020). Disabled-friendly city landscape: Landscape approach in the tourist destination environment. MANZAR, the Scientific Journal of Landscape, 12(52), 18-27. https://doi.org/10.22034/manzar.2020.223210.2054
Boisadan, A., Buisine, S., Moreau, P., & Boumenir, Y. (2020). Designing universal visuotactile pictograms. Journal of Accessibility and Design for All, 10(1), 31-69.
Cattaneo, Z., & Vecchi, T. (2011). Blind Vision: The Neuroscience of Visual Impairment. MIT Press. https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/9780262015035.003.0001
Darcy, S., & Dickson, T. J. (2009). A whole-of-life approach to tourism: The case for accessible tourism experiences. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 16(1), 32-44. https://doi.org/10.1375/jhtm.16.1.32
Farzin, A., & Sheybani, A. (2010). Blinds’ perception of architecture and criteria and designing patterns for theme. Bagh-e Nazar, 7(13), 61-72. https://www.bagh-sj.com/article_26.html?lang=en
Feiz, D., Baghernezhad Hamzekolaie, M. E., & Mahavarpour, F. (2022). Challenges and solutions for applying new technologies in Iranian marketing (Case study: Augmented reality (AR) technology). New Marketing Research Journal, 12(3), 153-176. https://doi.org/10.22108/nmrj.2022.133629.2700
Foroutan Yekta, V., & Rezvani, M. (2019). Naqsh-e vaqeiat-e majazi va afzoode dar tarahi-ye sahne-ye teatr [The role of virtual and augmented reality in stage design]. Theater, 6(78), 13-39. [in Persian]. B2n.ir/m88927
Franco, L. S., Shanahan, D. F., & Fuller, R. A. (2017). A review of the benefits of nature experiences: More than meets the eye. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(8), 864. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14080864
Fulmer, T. (2002). Blind aesthetics, thesis for the degree of master of architecture department of fine arts, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. https://etd.ohiolink.edu/acprod/odb_etd/etd/r/1501/10?clear=10&p10_accession_num=miami1002992074
Ghali, N. I., Soluiman, O., El-Bendary, N., Nassef, T. M., Ahmed, S. A., Elbarawy, Y. M., & Hassanien, A. E. (2012). Virtual reality technology for blind and visual impaired people: reviews and recent advances. Advances in Robotics and Virtual Reality, 363-385.
Grütter, J. K. (2023). Ästhetik der Architektur [aesthetics of architecture] (J. Pakzad, PhD & A. Homayun, Trans., 2nd ed.). Shahid Beheshti University.
Guerrero, G., Gómez, L., & Achig, J. (2020, June). Holonote: Text editor of augmented reality oriented to people with motor disabilities. In 2020 15th Iberian Conference on Information Systems and Technologies (CISTI) (pp. 1-7). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.23919/CISTI49556.2020.9140857
Hemmati, M. (2024). Media unsustainability; The relationship between media representation and environmental sustainability (The semantic evolution of Hormoz Island). The Monthly Scientific Journal of Bagh-e Nazar, 21(132), 31-42. https://doi.org/10.22034/bagh.2024.429446.5511.
Hemmati, M., Mansouri, S. A., & Barati, N. (2022). Media as a tool to transform the urban landscape: Developing a conceptual model to influence the urban landscape with no physical intervention. MANZAR, the Scientific Journal of Landscape, 14(58), 66-77. https://doi.org/10.22034/manzar.2021.285737.2129
Hemmati, M., & Khalili, H. (2024). An urban hyperreality: The impact of urban digital twin on citizens’ perception of the city. Tourism of Culture, 5(17), 32-39. https://doi.org/10.22034/toc.2024.465431.1162
Hersh, M. A., & Johnson, M. A. (Eds.). (2008). Assistive technology for visually impaired and blind people. Springer London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84628-867-8
Horney, K. (1950). Neurosis and human growth: The struggle towards self-realization. W. W. Norton & Co., Inc.
Hossein Nejad, H. (2015). Tarahi-ye mahd-e koodak-e talifiqi ba tawajjoh-e vije be koodakan-e nabina ba ruykard-e memariye havas [Designing an integrated kindergarten with special attention to blind children with a sensory architecture approach] [Unpublished master’s thesis]. University of Tehran. [in Persian]
Karoubi, M., Babaei, Y., Sheikhhasani, N., & Aghande, M. (2020). Study of the relationship between tourism industry and improving the quality of life of the host society (Case study: Sarein City). Quarterly Journal of Social Development (Previously Human Development), 14(4), 63-88. https://doi.org/10.22055/qjsd.2020.27156.1789
Omidi Khankhedani, M. (2015). Study of Accessible Tourism Development Potentials in Museums with emphasis on wheelchair-users an​d the blinds (case study: natural history an​d technology museum of Shiraz( [Master’s thesis, Art University of Isfahan]. Iranian Research Institute for Information Science and Technology (IranDoc) [in Persian]. https://ganj.irandoc.ac.ir//#/articles/14d16597f1167152ba21af2c37369c17
Klatzky, R. L., & Lederman, S. J. (2003). Touch. In A. F. Healy & R. W. Proctor (Eds.), Handbook of psychology: Experimental psychology, Vol. 4( pp. 147–176). John Wiley & Sons, Inc.. https://doi.org/10.1002/0471264385.wei0406
Lahav, O., Schloerb, D. W., & Srinivasan, M. A. (2015). Virtual environments for people who are visually impaired integrated into an orientation and mobility program. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 109(1), 5-16.
Lensing, P., & Broll, W. (2011). Fusing the real and the virtual: A depth-camera based approach to mixed reality. In 2011 10th IEEE International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality (pp. 261-262). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/ISMAR.2011.6143892 
Malakoutian, M. R. (2004). Sayt-ye Tafrihi, Sokoonati-ye Koodakan-e Nabina [Recreational and residential site for blind children] [Master’s thesis, Islamic Azad University, Kerman Branch]. Iranian Research Institute for Information Science and Technology (IranDoc). [in Persian]. https://ganj.irandoc.ac.ir/#/articles/58b3daef49cab6c49bd265eff6f7c477
Meldon, P. (2019). Interpreting Access: A History of Accessibility and Disability Representations in the National Park Service. [Master of Art Thesis, University of Massachusetts Amherst]. https://doi.org.10.7275/14429212
McCombs, M. E., & Shaw, D. L. (1972). The agenda-setting function of mass media. The Public Opinion Quarterly, 36(2), 176–187. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2747787
Moradi, F. (2020). Barrasi-ye Tajrobe-ha-ye Zamin Gardeshgari-ye Nabinayan dar Iran (Mored-e Motaleeh: Geotour-ha-ye Majarajoyaneh Rafting va Kavirnordi-ye Esfahan va Shahrekord) [Investigating geotourism experiences of the blind in Iran (Case study: Adventure geotours of rafting and desert trekking in Isfahan and Shahr-e Kord)] [Master’s thesis, University of Science and Culture]. Iranian Research Institute for Information Science and Technology (IranDoc). [in Persian]. https://ganj.irandoc.ac.ir/#/articles/f4bf69b1d0a2272b95a8d1c8c7b5f360
Nadaf Fard, S. (2000). Mabani-ye Nazari va Amali-ye Ehsas va Edarak-e Nabina dar Memari dar Ghaleb-e Tarahi-ye Ordugah-e Amoozeshi-ye Nabinaian-e Shahid Bahonar Tehran [Theoretical and practical foundations of feeling and perception of the blind in architecture within the framework of designing Shahid Bahonar Educational Camp for the Blind in Tehran] [Unpublished master’s thesis]. University of Tehran. [in Persian]
Pallasmaa, J. (2010). The eyes of the skin: architecture and the senses (R. Ghods, Trans.). Nashr-e Ganj-e Honar; Nashr-e Parham. (Original work published 2005)
Poria, Y., Reichel, A., & Brandt, Y. (2011). Dimensions of hotel experience of people with disabilities: An exploratory study. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 23(5), 571-591. https://doi.org/10.1108/09596111111143340
Putri, D. A. D. P., Rajistha, I. G. N. A., & Claria, D. A. K. (2020). DIMANTRA: Lingual-tactual sensory media for Bali blind tourism. Language Literacy: Journal of Linguistics, Literature, and Language Teaching, 4(2), 288–298. https://doi.org/10.30743/ll.v4i2.3117
Rafizadeh Akhavian, R., Shirvani, M. R., Safian, M. J., & Javani, A. (2016). Augmented reality and its relation with the real world. Kimiya-ye-Honar, 5(20), 19-30. http://kimiahonar.ir/article-1-772-fa.html
Rosenblum, L. P. (2000). Perceptions of the impact of visual impairment on the lives of adolescents. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 94(7). https://doi.org/10.1177/0145482X0009400703
Seidaiy, E., & Rostami, S. (2013). Economic and Social Impacts Assessment - Cultural Tourism Development (Case in Kermanshah). Spatial Planning, 2(3), 95-110. https://sppl.ui.ac.ir/article_15940.html?lang=en
Shahcheraghi, A., & Bandarabad, A. (2016). Environed in environment: Application of environmental psychology in architecture and urban design. Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research. [in Persian]
Smith, R. W. (1987). Leisure of disabled tourists: Barriers to participation. Annals of Tourism Research, 14(3), 376-389. https://doi.org/10.1016/0160-7383(87)90109-5
Tahmasebi, M. N. (2017). The Investigatin of the Challenges of Domestic religious Tourists with Disabilies in Mashhad (with emphasis on wheelchair users and the blind) [Master’s Thesis, Isfahan University of Art]. Iranian Research Institute for Information Science and Technology (IranDoc). [in Persian]. https://ganj.irandoc.ac.ir/#/articles/f6d8722415aa413b9342a2414e38f17c
Thylefors, B., Négrel, A. D., Pararajasegaram, R., & Dadzie, K. Y. (1995). Global data on blindness. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 73(1), 115-121. https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/263950
UNWTO. (2016): Manual on Accessible Tourism for All: Principles, Tools and Best Practices Module I: Accessible Tourism – Definition and Context, http://cf.cdn.unwto.org/sites/all/files/docpdf/moduleieng13022017.pdf
World Health Organization. (2011). World Report on Disability 2011. B2n.ir/d64350
World Health Organization. (2019). Blindness and vision impairment. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/blindness-and-visual-impairment
Zangeneh, P. (2013). An Sooy-e Tariki: Anja Ke Khorshid Be Delha Mi-Tabad [Beyond the darkness: Where the sun shines on hearts]. Ketabsara. [in Persian]
  • Receive Date 04 September 2024
  • Revise Date 08 November 2024
  • Accept Date 11 November 2024