Skip to main content
The Hassan Low Vision and Mobility Laboratory Indiana University

Welcome to The Hassan Low Vision and Mobility Laboratory

Posted on by CORL

The Hassan Low Vision and Mobility Laboratory Logo
Welcome and thank you for visiting our website.

The Hassan Low Vision and Mobility Laboratory is one of the leading and respected low vision and mobility research laboratories.  We are at the forefront of low vision and mobility research  and higher degree education. We are dedicated to:

  • cutting edge, first class low vision research aimed at improving the quality of life and independence of people with low vision and blindness through improved mobility,
  • improved low vision mobility,
  • low vision science and education.

Our innovative and on-going research and development approaches are anchored in improving low vision standards of care with a focus to ensure a meaningful and rewarding difference for people with visual impairments.

Understanding and investigating the science behind vision loss prevention and impairments is challenging, yet rewarding. At the Hassan Low Vision and Mobility Laboratory, you will experience an exciting learning and collaborative work environment, engage with state-of-the-art technology and equipment, be guided by strong and motivated leadership, and ultimately, build a strong foundation to help people with low vision and visual needs.

Using Waymo – Autonomous Ride-Hailing Service

Posted on by amkuborn

On May 17th, I opened the Waymo One app as if it was Uber and ordered a ride from my parking lot to a smoothie shop. The biggest difference however, was that when the car showed up, it was empty, and the back door opened on its own. My friend and I waited around 15 minutes for the ride, and then took the minivan adorned with several camera 3 miles away and back. The vehicle first asked us to press a button when we were ready, and then started off on its slow pace. It successfully made several left turns into traffic, waited at 4 way stop signs, and merged lanes.

I personally felt safe in the vehicle because of Waymo’s fairly successful track record, but thatdoes not mean it was without its hiccups. Among several flaws, it had no customization abilities on the app or in the car. The car did not verbalize any turns nor when it switched out route several times as we went along. Worst of all, it did not tell us it could not drop us off in front of the smoothie shop, but that we would have to walk across a busy 4 lane street from the Walgreens across the street. The “go”, “ask for help” and “pull over” buttons did have braille, but because the system was not accessible from start to finish, I would have found it fairly impossible to use this ride share independently as a visually impaired person.

Other noted dilemmas I noticed by seeing the needed capabilities of a car driving itself are the abilities to notice the directions of pedestrians in a parking lot (Waymo would prefer to wait it out), knowing not to pull over in a no parking zone (Waymo then redirected us from this spot it planned to drop us off at), and knowing that how close you can be to a car or trashcar without hitting it is different than how close you can be without making riders uncomfortable. The primary issue I saw with Waymo’s driving was that while it knew when someone was in its way, it didn’t always know how to not get in other people’s way. For example, in the parking lot, Waymo had to wait for a car on the other side of the intersection, but still went into the middle of the intersection to wait, meaning it got in several other cars’ ways.

This was an incredibly valuable experience to learn first hand what “driver-less” looks like and feels like.  I learned the most is that autonomous vehicles are not driver-less, but rather the driver is nothing more than the algorithm it follows. While I can guarantee the algorithm will get better, only with diligent work will the accessibility of autonomous vehicles get better.

Skip to toolbar