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Ability of Blind People to Detect Obstacles in Unfamiliar Environments
Author(s) -
Kells Karolyn
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of nursing scholarship
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.009
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1547-5069
pISSN - 1527-6546
DOI - 10.1111/j.1547-5069.2001.00153.x
Subject(s) - obstacle , theme (computing) , meaning (existential) , face (sociological concept) , psychology , space (punctuation) , facial recognition system , cognitive psychology , social psychology , computer science , sociology , psychotherapist , pattern recognition (psychology) , geography , social science , archaeology , operating system
Purpose: To describe obstacle detection, sometimes called face vision, and blind peoples' lived experiences. Design: This Husserlian phenomenologic inquiry included a convenience sample of eight blind participants who possessed the ability to detect obstacles in unfamiliar environments. Methods: Face‐to‐face conversations were audiotaped in a setting of the participant's choice. Findings: Three themes were identified: “a sense that something is there,”“sensing,” and “space.” These three entwined themes were recognized in the unity‐of‐meaning or uniting theme: sensing presence as open or closed space. Conclusions: The findings of this study indicate many questions for nurses. Given the synergistic recognition of obstacles that the participants described, secondary analysis of the data is indicated, for example regarding pattern recognition and human environmental field integrality.