Challenge
Escape route signage and environmental lighting play a crucial role in building safety, particularly for individuals with vision impairments. However, existing norms and standards often do not fully consider the real-world visibility challenges faced by these individuals. Ensuring that emergency signage is recognizable at safe distances and that lighting conditions support visibility is essential, especially in environments like elderly care facilities.

Solution
Using XREye, we conducted an XR-based evaluation of escape route sign visibility under simulated vision impairments. The study assessed how conditions such as reduced visual acuity affect the maximum recognition distance (MRD) of emergency signage. By immersing participants in a virtual environment with dynamically simulated impairments, we were able to investigate whether current signage designs and placements meet accessibility requirements. In a follow-up study, we extended this approach to examine the impact of lighting conditions on visual perception using a cataract simulation in VR. By testing different illumination levels, we explored how glare and contrast affect readability and wayfinding in real-world settings. This allowed us to identify lighting conditions that improve visibility for individuals with cataracts and other vision impairments.