IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/socres/v24y2019i4p475-495.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Troublesome Objects: Unpacking Ocular-Centrism in Urban Environments by Studying Blind Navigation Using Video Ethnography and Ethnomethodology

Author

Listed:
  • Brian L Due

    (University of Copenhagen, Denmark)

  • Simon Bierring Lange

    (University of Copenhagen, Denmark)

Abstract

This article reports on research into the navigational practices of blind and visually impaired people in urban environments. The members of this community encounter many types of obstacles, but this article focuses on ‘unpredictable inanimate moveable objects’. The analyses are based on recorded video material from ‘naturally occurring’ walks in a Danish urban area and are informed by ethnomethodology, with a focus on how blind or visually impaired people navigate and deal with trouble sources. This research unpacks the detailed features of navigation and obstacle-detection in the urban environment and demonstrates the value of using ethnomethodology to analyze the skilled character of everyday navigation in spaces in which the walker-with-cane is a kind of assemblage in harmony or at odds with other surfaces and objects. The findings have implications for space design and technology developments which can assist blind people with obstacle detection. The article uses empirical cases to discuss an ocular-centric bias and suggests the need for a more granular understanding of physical objects and tactile experiences in future developments of a sociology of space.

Suggested Citation

  • Brian L Due & Simon Bierring Lange, 2019. "Troublesome Objects: Unpacking Ocular-Centrism in Urban Environments by Studying Blind Navigation Using Video Ethnography and Ethnomethodology," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 24(4), pages 475-495, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:sae:socres:v:24:y:2019:i:4:p:475-495
    DOI: 10.1177/1360780418811963
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1360780418811963
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1177/1360780418811963?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. John Parkin & Nicola Smithies, 2012. "Accounting for the Needs of Blind and Visually Impaired People in Public Realm Design," Journal of Urban Design, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 17(1), pages 135-149.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Umu Akcil, 2018. "The use of mobile learning for visually impaired learners school in tolerance education contents," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 52(2), pages 969-982, December.
    2. Pimkamol Mattsson & Maria Johansson & Mai Almén & Thorbjörn Laike & Elizabeth Marcheschi & Agneta Ståhl, 2020. "Improved Usability of Pedestrian Environments After Dark for People with Vision Impairment: an Intervention Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-21, February.
    3. Thays A. Oliveira & Yuri B. Gabrich & Helena Ramalhinho & Miquel Oliver & Miri W. Cohen & Luiz S. Ochi & Serigne Gueye & Fábio Protti & Alysson A. Pinto & Diógenes V. M. Ferreira & Igor M. Coelho & Vi, 2020. "Mobility, Citizens, Innovation and Technology in Digital and Smart Cities," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-27, January.
    4. Gavin R. Jenkins & Hon K. Yuen & Laura K. Vogtle, 2015. "Experience of Multisensory Environments in Public Space among People with Visual Impairment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-14, July.
    5. Laura N. Cushley & Neil Galway & Katie Curran & Tunde Peto, 2022. "Navigating the Unseen City: Town Planners, Architects, Ophthalmic Professionals, and Charity Opinions on Navigating of the Built Environment with a Visual Impairment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-17, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:sae:socres:v:24:y:2019:i:4:p:475-495. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.