Designing and Evaluating Extended Reality Solutions for Sign Reading Assistance for People with Low Vision

Abstract

Treball fi de màster de: Master in Cognitive Systems and Interactive Media

Supervisor: Menno Veefkind

Co-supervisor: Davinia Hernández-Leo

Extended Reality (XR) technologies, including AR and VR, offer promising tools to support individuals with low vision in navigating public spaces and reading signage safely. People with impairments such as glaucoma or cataract often struggle with reduced visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and peripheral vision, leading to decreased situational awareness and increased risk of collisions. This study investigates a lightweight, user-customizable XR system designed to augment natural vision, enhance sign readability, and reduce cognitive load. Participants completed tasks in VR simulations of structured (museum) and cluttered (airport) environments, performing directed sign searches while the system recorded task completion times, reaction times, and NASA-TLX cognitive load ratings, complemented by qualitative feedback on usability and overlay design preferences. These findings provide practical insights for designing cognitively considerate, real-world-ready assistive XR systems.