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--></style></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual'>Shara Winton<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual'>President, National federation of the Blind of Massachusetts<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual'><a href="http://www.nfbma.org/"><span style='color:#0563C1'>www.nfbma.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual'><a href="mailto:sharawinton@gmail.com"><span style='color:#0563C1'>sharawinton@gmail.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual'>617-304-0347<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> NFBV-Announce <nfbv-announce-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>David Andrews via NFBV-Announce<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, October 16, 2025 12:52 AM<br><b>To:</b> david.andrews@nfbnet.org<br><b>Subject:</b> [NFBV-Announce] Research Participation Request: INVLM-Based Indoor Navigation System for People with Visual Impairments<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h2>Research Participation Request: INVLM-Based Indoor Navigation System for People with Visual Impairments<o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'> <br><br>The below research participant solicitation is being provided for informational purposes only. The National Federation of the Blind has no involvement in this research, but we believe that it may contribute to our research mission.<br><br> <br><br><o:p></o:p></p><h2>Research Title: InVLM: VLM-Based Indoor Navigation System for People with Visual Impairments<o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'> <br><br>Being conducted by: University of Maryland, Baltimore County<br><br><o:p></o:p></p><h2>Purpose of the Study<o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>This study aims to develop and evaluate an indoor navigation system known as InVLM (Vision-Language Model-based Indoor Navigation System) for individuals with visual impairments. This system integrates Multi-Modal Foundation Models with real-time object detection and spatial awareness technologies to enhance effective navigation in dynamic indoor settings. The study aims to evaluate the system's effects on navigation efficiency, user independence, and safety compared to traditional assistive methods. In this research, we propose a novel navigation assistance system that integrates macro and micro-navigation for goal-based navigation with the power of multi-modal foundation models. This system can assist BLV individuals in navigating dynamic indoor areas. To ensure safe navigation, we integrate a real-time open-world object detection model, YOLO-World, as an auxiliary model alongside a Large Language Model (LLM) for more robust obstacle detection and hazard assessment. To provide macro navigation, our system uses LLM-based floor plan analysis to convert layouts into navigable graph representations while generating contextual rules and trajectories. Our system combines high-level route generation with low-level navigation to provide more efficient and precise guidance in different indoor areas. To increase rerouting capabilities for user reorientation, we integrate image-based localization through image feature matching with the help of Vision Language Models (VLMs) to detect each scene in an indoor area. Although comprehensive experimental results are still pending, preliminary trials demonstrate significant improvements in navigation efficiency and user independence.<br><br><o:p></o:p></p><h2>Role of the Participants and Anticipated Length of the Study <o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal><b>Eligibility Criteria <br><br></b>We are looking for participants who <o:p></o:p></p><ul type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>are blind or have low vision, <o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Currently working in creative domains or have experience with creative tasks. Creative domains may include different forms of art such as photography, creative writing (e.g., fictions), drawing, fiber arts, music, etc. or professions that include creating prototypes or design materials, such as interaction design, product design, graphics design, user experience (UI/UX) research and design, etc. <o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>are able to communicate in English, <o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>are 18 years old or above <o:p></o:p></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><br> <br><br><b>By creative artifacts</b>, we refer to design prototypes, tactile arts and crafts, images, photographs, drawings, creative writing samples (e.g., fiction, but not academic papers at this time), and musical compositions. These artifacts can be in any medium, as long as they were created by the participant as part of their creative practice.<br><br> <br><br>Activities: Short questionnaire, brief training, and navigation tasks with a sighted assistant<br><br>Each participant will be asked to complete a set of 5 to 10 navigation tasks selected from the following list. These tasks are designed to evaluate wayfinding, navigation, and obstacle detection. A description of each task is provided below.<br><br>1. Point-to-Point Navigation<br><br>A. Example for this Task: Move from the entrance of the space to a designated room (e.g., bedroom, conference room).<br><br> Goal: Evaluate the systems ability to guide users through multiple turns or corridors.<br><br>we will evaluate different functionalities of our system, including scene descriptions, text to speech efficiency to the user<br><br> <br><br>Obstacle Avoidance<br><br>Task: Follow a path that includes one or more obstacles (e.g., chairs, boxes) and avoid them based on verbal guidance. Goal: Evaluate the systems hazard detection and redirection capabilities.<br><br>Safety: No face camera; safety support provided<br><br> <br><br><o:p></o:p></p><h2>Proposed Participant Compensation<o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>Yes, · Compensation:<br><br>o Pre-survey: $15 (10 -15 minutes, BLV participants only) <br><br><a href="https://forms.gle/REBMwfqQf76xSrVE8">https://forms.gle/REBMwfqQf76xSrVE8</a> <br><br>You can now fill out the pre-survey, which will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete (BLV participants only).<br><br>In-person sessions: $40 per session (30 - 45 minutes, up to 3 sessions in one day)<br><br><o:p></o:p></p><h2> <br><br><br>Link or Instructions for Participants to Enter the Study <o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>Sign-up form: <a href="https://umbc.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eyUrWciWyZjEg62">https://umbc.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eyUrWciWyZjEg62</a> <br><br>Consent form : <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/13K0RjJFEL8sZfJ2wHllpQCA6d0aI3BYd/view?usp=sharing">https://drive.google.com/file/d/13K0RjJFEL8sZfJ2wHllpQCA6d0aI3BYd/view?usp=sharing</a> <br><br><o:p></o:p></p><h2>Contact the following individual with any questions <o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal>Aydin Ayanzadeh<br><br>3013102304<br><br><a href="mailto:aydina1@umbc.edu">aydina1@umbc.edu</a><br><br> <o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>