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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Hello,</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(36, 36, 36);"><a href="https://bionicvisionlab.org/" id="OWA1e8a699c-293c-d99f-af19-2cc5212a9c17" class="OWAAutoLink" title="https://bionicvisionlab.org/" data-linkindex="0" data-auth="NotApplicable" style="margin: 0px;">Bionic
Vision Lab</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> at UCSB is conducting a research survey to explore how blind individuals navigate urban and indoor environments. Our goal is to understand the strategies
used for independent travel, the challenges faced, and how assistive technology can be improved to support mobility.</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">If you are
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 700;">completely blind
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">and navigate independently primarily using a mobility cane, we invite you to participate. Your insights will help shape the future of accessible navigation tools.</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Study Details:</span></h3>
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<span style="font-weight: 700;">Whats involved?</span> A 45 to 60-minute survey about your navigation experiences, challenges, and strategies.</p>
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<span style="font-weight: 700;">Focus:</span> Real-world navigation scenarios, assistive technology preferences, and mobility techniques.</p>
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<span style="font-weight: 700;">Confidentiality:</span> Your responses will remain confidential and used only for research purposes.</p>
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Compensation: <span style="font-weight: 400;">Participants will receive $30 in Amazon gift cards.</span></p>
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There are no direct benefits for participating, but your valuable input will contribute to research aimed at improving accessibility and assistive technology for blind individuals.</p>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Eligibility Criteria:</span></h3>
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Must be <span style="font-weight: 700;">completely blind</span>.</p>
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Must be <span style="font-weight: 700;">proficient in using a mobility cane</span> for independent navigation.</p>
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Must be <span style="font-weight: 700;">18 years or older</span>.</p>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">How to Participate:</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">If you meet the eligibility criteria and are interested, please reply to this email with the following information:</span></p>
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Confirm that you are <span style="font-weight: 700;">completely blind</span> and <span style="font-weight: 700;">
proficient in using a mobility cane</span>.</p>
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Confirm that you are <span style="font-weight: 700;">18 years or older</span>.</p>
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Indicate your proficiency in using a cane for mobility on the following scale:</p>
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<span style="font-weight: 700;">1 Not proficient at all:</span> I struggle to use a cane and need significant assistance for navigation.</p>
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<span style="font-weight: 700;">2 Slightly proficient:</span> I can use a cane but often find it challenging and may rely on other aids or occasional assistance.</p>
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<span style="font-weight: 700;">3 Moderately proficient:</span> I use a cane with some confidence but still face occasional difficulties in complex environments.</p>
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<span style="font-weight: 700;">4 Very proficient:</span> I am comfortable using a cane in most situations and can navigate independently in familiar and some unfamiliar areas.</p>
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<span style="font-weight: 700;">5 Extremely proficient:</span> I have mastered cane usage and can confidently navigate a wide range of environments, including unfamiliar or complex spaces, without assistance.</p>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">If you have any questions about the study, feel free to contact us.</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Thank you for your time and consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Best regards,<br>
Apurv Varshney</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">PhD Student</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Bionic Vision Lab (<a href="https://bionicvisionlab.org/" id="OWA9c7238f8-ad65-000e-9df4-fe9e01724bea" class="OWAAutoLink" title="https://bionicvisionlab.org" data-linkindex="1" data-auth="NotApplicable" style="margin: 0px;">https://bionicvisionlab.org</a>)</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">University of California, Santa Barbara</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Email:
<a href="mailto:apurv@ucsb.edu" id="OWAc488790f-8e42-f40a-2035-514e098bc25f" class="OWAAutoLink" title="mailto:apurv@ucsb.edu" data-linkindex="2" style="margin: 0px;">
apurv@ucsb.edu</a></span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Phone: +1 805-837-4045</span></p>
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