# PWR-080 — Auditory navigation and substitution: learner worksheet Release: Revision 7T · Full Tutorial Edition Estimated time: Estimated 15 min reading; practical time is provider-set Difficulty: Advanced Equipment: Common household or practice equipment — The individually selected and configured sensory-substitution or electronic travel aid.; Established cane, guide dog, sighted guide or other primary mobility method.; A quiet controlled indoor training route with soft/static obstacles and no stairs or traffic.; Route map and record for cue interpretation, stops, contacts/near misses, assistance, device state and burden. Space: Open movement area Automated structural checklist: 10 of 10 structural checks present Evidence quality/context: G4; Deep research depth Automated method-quality band: Comprehensive Method-rating basis: Structure coverage, instruction/check specificity, alternative distinctness, source troubleshooting, comparison depth and whether purpose/check fields are authored rather than derived. Editorial review: Pending manual editorial sign off ## Before you begin - [ ] I read the tutorial authority and stop conditions. - [ ] I have the required equipment/space or a declared accessible alternative. ## Canonical source context Sensory-substitution tools can add real spatial information—but the capability belongs to person, device, training, mobility tools and environment together. Auditory navigation and sensory substitution belong to a person–device–training–environment system. A qualified orientation-and-mobility professional selects the clinic route, fits the doorway code into existing mobility tools, rehearses one segment, stops on ambiguity and compares device-on with the established long-cane fallback. The audio-substitution unit never replaces traffic judgment or a cane, dog or guide without formal assessment. The taught travel chain is concrete: establish the clinic-corridor shoreline with Noor's long cane, stop at the tactile floor marker, listen for the one trained doorway code, predict the doorway-opening side, confirm it with Noor's long cane and cross only on the O&M specialist’s instruction. Target outcome: Under direct specialist supervision, Noor completes a controlled indoor route segment using the doorway code plus established mobility aids and executes the ambiguity-stop and fallback response. ### Authority and setup conditions - A qualified orientation-and-mobility professional checks device, hearing access, primary mobility skill, route and consent. - Charge, update and inspect the device; record model, software, settings and audio output. - Keep the established mobility aid in use and identify a sighted/qualified safety spotter. - No road crossing, platform, stair, crowd, water or moving-vehicle environment is used. ### Required or supplied materials - The individually selected and configured sensory-substitution or electronic travel aid. - Established cane, guide dog, sighted guide or other primary mobility method. - A quiet controlled indoor training route with soft/static obstacles and no stairs or traffic. - Route map and record for cue interpretation, stops, contacts/near misses, assistance, device state and burden. ## 1. Name the doorway code and its limit Noor's O&M specialist explains exactly what the trained sound feature represents and what it fails to detect. Why: A sound map is only useful when its coding and blind spots are explicit. Success check: Noor can state doorway code meaning and one failure mode. Accessible alternative: A visible, captioned or haptic version of “Noor's O&M specialist explains exactly what the trained sound feature represents and what it fails to detect.” can rehearse the response sequence, but it removes the declared auditory stimulus and is therefore a related activity, not an equivalent attempt at Auditory navigation and substitution. To preserve the target, keep the authored sound and adapt only non-target access such as response input, instructions, breaks or support; retain this success check: “Noor can state doorway code meaning and one failure mode.” Alternative relationship: Related alternative changes trained or measured target Learner notes: ________________________________________________________________________________ Completed: [ ] ## 2. Check long-cane fallback Demonstrate the established cane, dog, guide or stop-and-wait method before the audio-substitution unit is turned on. Why: The added device must not remove a proven mobility route. Success check: Long-cane fallback is immediately available and works on the clinic route. Accessible alternative: A visible, captioned or haptic version of “Demonstrate the established cane, dog, guide or stop-and-wait method before the audio-substitution unit is turned on.” can rehearse the response sequence, but it removes the declared auditory stimulus and is therefore a related activity, not an equivalent attempt at Auditory navigation and substitution. To preserve the target, keep the authored sound and adapt only non-target access such as response input, instructions, breaks or support; retain this success check: “Long-cane fallback is immediately available and works on the clinic route.” Alternative relationship: Related alternative changes trained or measured target Learner notes: ________________________________________________________________________________ Completed: [ ] ## 3. Calibrate while stationary In a fixed safe position, aim the audio-substitution unit at a known wall/opening or place the configured sensor and identify the corresponding cue. Why: Stationary calibration separates cue learning from walking demand. Success check: Noor identifies the known doorway code on repeated checks. Accessible alternative: A visible, captioned or haptic version of “In a fixed safe position, aim the audio-substitution unit at a known wall/opening or place the configured sensor and identify the corresponding cue.” can rehearse the response sequence, but it removes the declared auditory stimulus and is therefore a related activity, not an equivalent attempt at Auditory navigation and substitution. To preserve the target, keep the authored sound and adapt only non-target access such as response input, instructions, breaks or support; retain this success check: “Noor identifies the known doorway code on repeated checks.” Alternative relationship: Related alternative changes trained or measured target Learner notes: ________________________________________________________________________________ Completed: [ ] ## 4. Point before moving For the first route landmark, state the predicted open direction or obstacle location while stationary and confirm with long-cane sweep. Why: Prediction plus confirmation teaches how cues relate to the environment. Success check: The doorway prediction and long-cane check agree or the discrepancy is named. Accessible alternative: Ask the qualified provider to adapt positioning, cue modality, pace, interface or rest while preserving this step’s declared check: “The doorway prediction and long-cane check agree or the discrepancy is named.” If an adaptation changes the measured task or configuration, record it as a different configuration rather than an equivalent attempt. Alternative relationship: Conditional equivalence requires target and configuration check Learner notes: ________________________________________________________________________________ Completed: [ ] ## 5. Move one guarded segment On the O&M specialist’s command, travel only the marked short segment at the set pace using Noor’s long cane plus the doorway code. Why: Short segments bound errors and keep the professional able to stop the trial. Success check: Noor reaches the corridor-segment marker without unplanned contact. Accessible alternative: Ask the qualified provider to adapt positioning, cue modality, pace, interface or rest while preserving this step’s declared check: “Noor reaches the corridor-segment marker without unplanned contact.” If an adaptation changes the measured task or configuration, record it as a different configuration rather than an equivalent attempt. Alternative relationship: Conditional equivalence requires target and configuration check Learner notes: ________________________________________________________________________________ Completed: [ ] ## 6. Stop on ambiguity When the doorway code is absent, conflicting, overloaded or surprising, stop immediately, state “cue unclear” and use the long-cane fallback or ask for help. Why: Safe navigation depends on recognising device uncertainty, not guessing. Success check: Noor stops before stepping into the uncertain area. Accessible alternative: A visible, captioned or haptic version of “When the doorway code is absent, conflicting, overloaded or surprising, stop immediately, state “cue unclear” and use the long-cane fallback or ask for help.” can rehearse the response sequence, but it removes the declared auditory stimulus and is therefore a related activity, not an equivalent attempt at Auditory navigation and substitution. To preserve the target, keep the authored sound and adapt only non-target access such as response input, instructions, breaks or support; retain this success check: “Noor stops before stepping into the uncertain area.” Alternative relationship: Related alternative changes trained or measured target Learner notes: ________________________________________________________________________________ Completed: [ ] ## 7. Record error and recalibrate Noor's O&M specialist classifies wrong-side code, missed code, positioning, environment or device fault; change one factor before a matched retry. Why: Specific errors guide correction without hiding a near miss. Success check: The raw event and one correction are recorded. Accessible alternative: Ask the qualified provider to adapt positioning, cue modality, pace, interface or rest while preserving this step’s declared check: “The raw event and one correction are recorded.” If an adaptation changes the measured task or configuration, record it as a different configuration rather than an equivalent attempt. Alternative relationship: Conditional equivalence requires target and configuration check Learner notes: ________________________________________________________________________________ Completed: [ ] ## 8. Compare device on and off On a safe matched segment, compare added value and burden with Noor’s usual long-cane method, then end with an equipment check and route debrief. Why: Device-on performance must be better or meaningfully different without weakening fallback. Success check: Benefit, failures, assistance and burden are all explicit. Accessible alternative: Ask the qualified provider to adapt positioning, cue modality, pace, interface or rest while preserving this step’s declared check: “Benefit, failures, assistance and burden are all explicit.” If an adaptation changes the measured task or configuration, record it as a different configuration rather than an equivalent attempt. Alternative relationship: Conditional equivalence requires target and configuration check Learner notes: ________________________________________________________________________________ Completed: [ ] ## 9. Anchor at last known landmark Approach the tactile floor marker using Noor’s normal cane arc and shoreline technique. Stop with both feet behind the floor marker, name the wall side and point back toward the start before interpreting any synthetic sound. Why: Auditory substitution is safer when each decision begins from a known orientation rather than from continuous uncertain walking. Success check: Noor identifies the floor marker, shoreline and return direction while stationary and without narrowing cane coverage. Accessible alternative: A visible, captioned or haptic version of “Approach the tactile floor marker using Noor’s normal cane arc and shoreline technique. Stop with both feet behind the floor marker, name the wall side and point back toward the start before interpreting any synthetic sound.” can rehearse the response sequence, but it removes the declared auditory stimulus and is therefore a related activity, not an equivalent attempt at Auditory navigation and substitution. To preserve the target, keep the authored sound and adapt only non-target access such as response input, instructions, breaks or support; retain this success check: “Noor identifies the floor marker, shoreline and return direction while stationary and without narrowing cane coverage.” Alternative relationship: Related alternative changes trained or measured target Learner notes: ________________________________________________________________________________ Completed: [ ] ## 10. Confirm doorway before crossing Listen once for the trained opening code, state left, centre or right, then confirm the predicted threshold with Noor's long cane or guide. Cross only when the synthetic tone and long-cane check agree; otherwise invoke the ambiguity stop. Why: A reflected or masked code can suggest an opening where the safe threshold is absent. Success check: The doorway threshold is confirmed by long-cane sweep, and any disagreement ends movement rather than prompting a test step. Accessible alternative: A visible, captioned or haptic version of “Listen once for the trained opening code, state left, centre or right, then confirm the predicted threshold with Noor's long cane or guide. Cross only when the synthetic tone and long-cane check agree; otherwise invoke the ambiguity stop.” can rehearse the response sequence, but it removes the declared auditory stimulus and is therefore a related activity, not an equivalent attempt at Auditory navigation and substitution. To preserve the target, keep the authored sound and adapt only non-target access such as response input, instructions, breaks or support; retain this success check: “The doorway threshold is confirmed by long-cane sweep, and any disagreement ends movement rather than prompting a test step.” Alternative relationship: Related alternative changes trained or measured target Learner notes: ________________________________________________________________________________ Completed: [ ] ## Reflection What changed? ________________________________________________________________________________ What remains difficult? ________________________________________________________________________________ What will I repeat, adapt, ask for help with, or stop? ________________________________________________________________________________ --- Completion of this worksheet demonstrates tutorial participation only. It does not establish capability, qualification, safety clearance, diagnosis, treatment or independent validation.