People with visual impairments can navigate a city via their smartphone
- 10 Nov
For many of us when we get lost we simply get out our phones and use the map on it; however for people with visual impairments that can be a lot trickier.
Microsoft have developed a headset which will help to guide people with visual impairments around cities.
It is currently only compatible with Windows phones and uses location and navigation data along with a network of information beacons in urban areas to describe routes, reports the BBC.
The headset has been tested on a journey from Reading to London which included a shopping trip along with bus and train travel.
The charity Guide Dogs, which helped develop the technology, said it could help improve lives.
"People living with sight loss face a multitude of challenges every day that can prevent them from getting where they want to be in life," explained Jenny Cook, head of strategy and research at Guide Dogs.
"Currently, visiting a new city is often daunting, even for people with enough confidence to tackle the challenge independently. For others, who rarely leave home alone, the thought of an unfamiliar journey leaves them stressed and anxious and visiting a new area is an impossible dream."
Do you think this could be a viable solution?
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This blog post has been written by our sister company The Media Bubble who specialise in social media for the social sector.
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