VisionWay Accessibility for People With Visual Impairments
Official title: VisionWay: Accessibility-Aware Path Selection for Wayfinding
Run by Ohio State University · NCT07713979 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A mobile tool called VisionWay tests whether a live outside map can help people who are blind or visually impaired choose safe walking paths to a chosen destination.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 100 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Ohio State University Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Orono, Maine and 1 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | February 26, 2026 |
| Main results expected | September 1, 2027 |
| Study ends | September 1, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | July 20, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07713979 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults 18 or older with vision worse than 20/200, including those who are totally blind, who can consent and are willing to try a mobile, location-based guidance tool.
✕Probably not a fit
Participants who do not benefit may have routes where VisionWay cannot reliably identify hazards or who do not use the app as intended.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
VisionWay aims to provide a live, local outdoor walking map tailored for people with visual impairments to help decide which path to take before starting a walk. The approach builds on mobile sensing and AI to identify sidewalk features, crossings, obstacles, and hazards along multiple routes to a nearby destination. The study will test walking paths with participants who have severe vision loss, comparing routes with and without VisionWay guidance. It includes groups using no mobility aids, a cane, or a guide dog, to understand accessibility across different mobility configurations. Safety monitoring and expert oversight will ensure that trials are conducted under appropriate conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, VisionWay could help PVI choose safer, more accessible routes before walking and reduce reliance on real-time guidance from remote operators.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has explored remote guidance and environment-sensing aids for PVI, but comprehensive pre-walk route accessibility decision tools are still emerging.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * At least 18 years old * Able to provide informed consent * Vision worse than 20/200, encompassing PVI with severe and profound impairment as well as total blindness. Group 1 Inclusion: \- PVI meeting general inclusion criteria and without mobility aids Group 2 Inclusion: \- PVI meeting general inclusion criteria and who use a cane as a mobility aid Group 3 Inclusion: \- PVI meeting general inclusion criteria and who use guide dogs. Exclusion Criteria: * Conditions that prevent safe ambulation that include, but are not limited to, neuromuscular disorder, post-operative state (such as orthopedic surgeries or cardiac surgeries), balance issues, history of falls in the last 6 months, or at the discretion of the investigator. * Use of walker or wheelchair
Where it's running
-
University of Maine
Orono, Maine, United States Recruiting -
Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Sayoko Moroi, MD, PhD — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Abigail Larsen, MPH
- Email: abigail.larsen@osumc.edu
- Phone: 614-293-5287
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.