"I Shake The Package To Check If It's Mine": A Study of Package Fetching Practices and Challenges of Blind and Low Vision People in China

Title of the Paper

“I Shake The Package To Check If It’s Mine” - A Study of Package Fetching Practices and Challenges of Blind and Low Vision People in China

Paper Information

• Research Domain: Package retrieval processes and accessibility challenges for blind and low vision individuals
• Keywords: Package delivery, KuaiDiGui, blind and low vision, visual impairment, qualitative study, interviews, China, accessibility

Research Background and Issues

• What issues or challenges did the authors identify?

  • Blind and low vision (BLV) individuals in China face multiple difficulties in retrieving online shopping packages, including locating pickup points, identifying packages, and interacting with self-service lockers (KuaiDiGui).
  • BLV users encounter challenges in operating screens, navigating complex processes, and opening the correct storage compartments in KuaiDiGui systems.
  • There is a need for more assistive designs to enhance the independence of BLV individuals.

• Why is this issue important?

  • Approximately 2.2 billion people globally live with visual impairments, with over 17 million such individuals in China; package retrieval is an essential part of e-commerce-driven social life.
  • China's unique high-density residential areas and collective package pickup models pose additional challenges for BLV individuals.
  • The widespread adoption of self-service technologies like KuaiDiGui may exacerbate these issues in the future.

• Research Motivation and Related Work

  • Existing research on mobile device accessibility, indoor and urban navigation, and object recognition technologies has provided some assistance to BLV individuals but lacks focus on the modern package retrieval experience.
  • Previous studies have primarily concentrated on screen reader functionalities and other technologies, with limited exploration of independent adaptations for BLV users in systems like KuaiDiGui.

Solutions

• What methods or solutions did the authors propose?

  • Recommendations for redesigning KuaiDiGui and the overall package delivery process to better meet accessibility needs:
    1. Screen Readers: Integrating screen reader functionality into KuaiDiGui interfaces.
    2. Multi-sensory Feedback: Combining voice prompts and tactile feedback (e.g., raised buttons) to assist operations.
    3. Simplified Interfaces and Processes: Reducing touch screen operation steps and enhancing visual contrast.
    4. Mobile Interaction Solutions: Leveraging familiar smart devices for interaction to minimize the complexity of learning new systems.
    5. Facial Recognition as a Password Alternative: Using cameras to capture user identity, eliminating the need for password input.

• What is innovative about this solution?

  • The solution is based on the actual needs of BLV users, combining academic theories with practical process improvement suggestions, encompassing both hardware design (e.g., tactile feedback on keyboards) and software updates (e.g., simplified processes and voice interaction).
  • This is the first investigation into the applicability of KuaiDiGui systems for BLV and low vision users, proposing innovative functional designs compared to traditional touch screen systems.

• What are the implementation steps and key technologies used?

  • Qualitative Research: Recruiting 20 participants aged 18-46 with package retrieval experience and varying visual conditions, documenting their difficulties and suggestions.
  • Data Analysis: Transcribing interviews verbatim, extracting data through open coding, and using online tools (e.g., Miro) for cluster analysis.
  • Problem Breakdown and Technology Mapping: Linking identified issues with existing accessibility technologies (e.g., OCR, touch screen optimization) to derive corresponding recommendations.

Research Outcomes

• What specific results were achieved?

  • Preliminary insights into the daily experiences of the BLV community in China regarding package retrieval, providing a feasible research framework for smart lockers, indoor navigation, and object recognition applications.
  • Proposed interface redesign and process optimization solutions tailored to the BLV community, balancing technical feasibility and individual acceptance.
  • Initiated discussions on multimodal interaction (e.g., voice, tactile, visual) combined with safety and privacy considerations, aligning with current logistics technology trends.

• What advantages does it have compared to existing solutions?

  • The research design incorporates China’s specific cultural and community environment, differing from studies focused on single-household retrieval in Europe or America, offering higher regional adaptability.
  • The user-centered design approach provides more actionable guidance, redefining service optimization to prioritize accessibility for specific user groups rather than solely focusing on efficiency.

• What are the experimental or evaluation results?

  • Identified pain points for BLV users across all package retrieval processes, proposing multiple technical solutions for each issue.
  • KuaiDiGui was identified as one of the most challenging aspects for BLV users: 85% of the 18 participants required assistance, but barriers were significantly reduced with improved assistive designs (e.g., voice prompts).

• Limitations and Future Directions

  • Limitations:
    • The study primarily focuses on a major city in China, and the experiences of BLV individuals in other regions or countries may differ.
    • The research mainly involved BLV users, and perspectives from the logistics industry and sighted users need to be incorporated.
  • Future Directions:
    • Deepen multi-stakeholder research, integrating the needs of all relevant parties.
    • Expand evaluations of emerging technologies, such as drones, in package retrieval scenarios for BLV individuals.