ThisWay: A barrier-breaking app
Basic information
Project Title
ThisWay: A barrier-breaking app
Full project title
ThisWay is an app that facilitates the autonomous mobility of the visually impaired people indoors.
Category
Prioritising the places and people that need it the most
Project Description
Moving around an unfamiliar place can be challenging for anyone, but imagine doing it without the sense responsible for 80% of the information we perceive: sight. For visually impaired people, carrying out daily activities implies a great difficulty due to the accessibility barriers they encounter to orient themselves in places where GPS is no longer functional. ThisWay is an indoor navigation app intended to promote the autonomy and social inclusion of visually impaired people.
Geographical Scope
National
Project Region
Spain
Urban or rural issues
Mainly urban
Physical or other transformations
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
EU Programme or fund
No
Description of the project
Summary
Moving around an unfamiliar place can be challenging for anyone, but imagine doing it without the sense responsible for 80% of the information we perceive: sight. It’s estimated that around 25% of the world's population suffers from some form of visual impairment, or 1 in 4 people. For these people, carrying out daily activities such as going to an educational center, hospital, shopping mall, supermarket, hotel, museum or cinema, implies a great difficulty due to the accessibility barriers they encounter to orient themselves inside these places, where GPS apps are no longer useful. This project consists of the development of “ThisWay”, an innovative app aimed at improving the quality of life of visually impaired people by providing an accessible indoor navigation solution.
This project primarily targets visually impaired people, but it extends to anyone with mobility impairments, the elderly, and others who may struggle with indoor navigation. The project's specific objectives include: To develop an intuitive, user-friendly indoor navigation app in collaboration with visually impaired people, To enhance the quality of life and personal autonomy of people with disabilities, and To promote greater accessibility and sustainability in indoor spaces by implementing low-impact universal design features.
"ThisWay" can significantly contribute to addressing these challenges by empowering users with a reliable navigation tool. It also promotes awareness of the importance of inclusive design, which can lead to more accessible indoor spaces across the country. By fostering autonomy, the project can enhance the lives of visually impaired individuals and positively impact the Spanish community and environment by lessening the environmental impact associated with traditional navigation solutions. Furthermore, it can serve as a model for worldwide implementation, making indoor spaces globally more inclusive and accessible.
This project primarily targets visually impaired people, but it extends to anyone with mobility impairments, the elderly, and others who may struggle with indoor navigation. The project's specific objectives include: To develop an intuitive, user-friendly indoor navigation app in collaboration with visually impaired people, To enhance the quality of life and personal autonomy of people with disabilities, and To promote greater accessibility and sustainability in indoor spaces by implementing low-impact universal design features.
"ThisWay" can significantly contribute to addressing these challenges by empowering users with a reliable navigation tool. It also promotes awareness of the importance of inclusive design, which can lead to more accessible indoor spaces across the country. By fostering autonomy, the project can enhance the lives of visually impaired individuals and positively impact the Spanish community and environment by lessening the environmental impact associated with traditional navigation solutions. Furthermore, it can serve as a model for worldwide implementation, making indoor spaces globally more inclusive and accessible.
Key objectives for sustainability
“ThisWay" can make a meaningful contribution to sustainability by lessening the environmental impact associated with traditional navigation solutions, employing efficient, customizable, and low-waste software development, minimizing hardware requirements, and encouraging users to make sustainable mobility choices. Our key objectives in terms of sustainability are:
1. To reduce the environmental impact associated with traditional indoor navigation solutions, such as physical signage. By eliminating the need for manufacturing, shipping, and maintenance of signs, the app minimizes the carbon footprint and waste generated by plastic or metal signage. Besides, the development of the app is intended to be zero-waste and low-pollution. By focusing on software rather than physical products, the project minimizes waste and reduces pollution associated with manufacturing and shipping.
2. To minimize hardware and device requirements. The app promotes sustainability by relying on users' existing smartphones, eliminating the need for the production of additional electronic devices. This approach reduces e-waste and the energy-intensive manufacturing of new hardware.
3. To boost efficient resource use. Helping visually impaired users navigate indoor spaces more efficiently by providing accurate and real-time guidance, including the provision of eco-friendly navigation routes that prioritize stairs over elevators or escalators, thereby reducing energy consumption and encouraging users to make sustainable mobility choices.
By eliminating the need for physical signage, “ThisWay” serves as an exemplary model for sustainability, showcasing the potential for technology to significantly reduce the environmental impact of navigation solutions, and how it can be leveraged to minimize e-waste and reduce the carbon footprint associated with the production of specialized devices in the navigation and accessibility domain.
1. To reduce the environmental impact associated with traditional indoor navigation solutions, such as physical signage. By eliminating the need for manufacturing, shipping, and maintenance of signs, the app minimizes the carbon footprint and waste generated by plastic or metal signage. Besides, the development of the app is intended to be zero-waste and low-pollution. By focusing on software rather than physical products, the project minimizes waste and reduces pollution associated with manufacturing and shipping.
2. To minimize hardware and device requirements. The app promotes sustainability by relying on users' existing smartphones, eliminating the need for the production of additional electronic devices. This approach reduces e-waste and the energy-intensive manufacturing of new hardware.
3. To boost efficient resource use. Helping visually impaired users navigate indoor spaces more efficiently by providing accurate and real-time guidance, including the provision of eco-friendly navigation routes that prioritize stairs over elevators or escalators, thereby reducing energy consumption and encouraging users to make sustainable mobility choices.
By eliminating the need for physical signage, “ThisWay” serves as an exemplary model for sustainability, showcasing the potential for technology to significantly reduce the environmental impact of navigation solutions, and how it can be leveraged to minimize e-waste and reduce the carbon footprint associated with the production of specialized devices in the navigation and accessibility domain.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
“ThisWay” contributes to aesthetics by incorporating user-centered design, which enhances the user experience by making navigation more efficient and enjoyable, and it also helps visually impaired users feel a sense of belonging, fostering a connection to the community and encouraging participation in cultural and social activities. Our key objectives in terms of aesthetics and quality of experience for people are:
1. To create an intuitive user interface that is visually appealing and easy to navigate. This enhances the overall experience and ensures that users find the app engaging and welcoming. The app's user interface is not only functional but also designed with the highest standards of aesthetics, reflecting the beauty of the indoor spaces it navigates.
2. To incorporate immersive sensory features, such as audio tracks, tactile feedback, or immersive soundscapes that connect users to the qualities of a place. These sensory experiences can evoke emotional and cultural connections to the environment, enriching the navigation experience.
3. To encourage participation of visually impaired people in cultural and social activities. This involves integrating into the app information about the history, significance, or art within a particular location. This connects visually impaired individuals to the cultural richness of their surroundings, fostering a sense of belonging, and a connection to the community.
The project aims to create an indoor navigation app that goes beyond functional utility. It prioritizes the user experience, sensory engagement, cultural integration, and a sense of belonging to enhance the quality of the experience for visually impaired individuals. By achieving these objectives, the project becomes exemplary in its commitment to providing a holistic and enriching navigation experience that connects users with the qualities of indoor spaces and fosters enduring cultural and social values.
1. To create an intuitive user interface that is visually appealing and easy to navigate. This enhances the overall experience and ensures that users find the app engaging and welcoming. The app's user interface is not only functional but also designed with the highest standards of aesthetics, reflecting the beauty of the indoor spaces it navigates.
2. To incorporate immersive sensory features, such as audio tracks, tactile feedback, or immersive soundscapes that connect users to the qualities of a place. These sensory experiences can evoke emotional and cultural connections to the environment, enriching the navigation experience.
3. To encourage participation of visually impaired people in cultural and social activities. This involves integrating into the app information about the history, significance, or art within a particular location. This connects visually impaired individuals to the cultural richness of their surroundings, fostering a sense of belonging, and a connection to the community.
The project aims to create an indoor navigation app that goes beyond functional utility. It prioritizes the user experience, sensory engagement, cultural integration, and a sense of belonging to enhance the quality of the experience for visually impaired individuals. By achieving these objectives, the project becomes exemplary in its commitment to providing a holistic and enriching navigation experience that connects users with the qualities of indoor spaces and fosters enduring cultural and social values.
Key objectives for inclusion
Inclusion is the core of this project, which was born out of a need for social inclusion of a large minority group, people with disabilities. Accessibility means inclusion, and ThisWay is an example of how technology can and must be at the service of people. Our key objectives in terms of inclusion are:
1. To develop the app with universal design principles to ensure it is accessible and usable by as many people as possible, regardless of their abilities, age, or background. This includes adhering to accessibility standards, such as providing screen reader compatibility, high-contrast interfaces, and user-friendly navigation features.
2. To offer a free app to end users while partnering with companies or organizations to cover the costs of development and maintenance. This affordability model ensures that all visually impaired individuals can access the app without economic barriers.
3. To raise social awareness about the challenges faced by people with disabilities and promote sensitivity to their needs in indoor spaces. This includes organizing awareness campaigns, workshops, and educational initiatives.
This project is exemplary in its commitment to accessibility and, therefore, inclusion. By striving to be inclusive in every aspect, from design for all to affordability, ensuring that cost is not a hindrance to accessibility, the project sets a high standard for the technology industry and becomes a model of how technology can have a broader societal impact and be a force for positive change and true inclusion.
1. To develop the app with universal design principles to ensure it is accessible and usable by as many people as possible, regardless of their abilities, age, or background. This includes adhering to accessibility standards, such as providing screen reader compatibility, high-contrast interfaces, and user-friendly navigation features.
2. To offer a free app to end users while partnering with companies or organizations to cover the costs of development and maintenance. This affordability model ensures that all visually impaired individuals can access the app without economic barriers.
3. To raise social awareness about the challenges faced by people with disabilities and promote sensitivity to their needs in indoor spaces. This includes organizing awareness campaigns, workshops, and educational initiatives.
This project is exemplary in its commitment to accessibility and, therefore, inclusion. By striving to be inclusive in every aspect, from design for all to affordability, ensuring that cost is not a hindrance to accessibility, the project sets a high standard for the technology industry and becomes a model of how technology can have a broader societal impact and be a force for positive change and true inclusion.
How Citizens benefit
The participatory process is crucial to ensure the project's success and its positive impact on the community. "ThisWay" actively involves communities affected by the project, that is, visually impaired people and with other disabilities, in the co-design and decision-making phases. This ensures that the app addresses their unique needs and empowers local communities to shape the solution. Visually impaired individuals who will benefit from the app are actively engaged since the early stage of the project. We conduct comprehensive needs assessments by surveying visually impaired people to understand their specific navigation and accessibility challenges, in order to collect data on their preferences, existing barriers, and the features they consider most valuable for an indoor navigation app.
During the stage of development, they will be engaged in providing feedback and testing the app. They would serve as beta testers and participate in usability testing, offering insights on the app's functionality, accessibility and user experience. Their direct feedback would help identify and rectify usability issues, ensuring that the app is tailored to their specific needs and preferences. This involvement would lead to a user-friendly and effective app. We will also establish online platforms where people with other disabilities can share their opinions, needs, and suggestions throughout the project's ideation phase, in order to broaden the accessibility of the app.
By seeking the opinions and needs of visually impaired individuals before app development begins, and throughout its development, the project can ensure that it is rooted in real-world experiences and addresses specific challenges. This inclusive approach fosters a sense of ownership and collaboration, ultimately resulting in an app that is better aligned with the needs and preferences of the intended users. It also demonstrates a commitment to user-centered design and inclusivity from the project's start.
During the stage of development, they will be engaged in providing feedback and testing the app. They would serve as beta testers and participate in usability testing, offering insights on the app's functionality, accessibility and user experience. Their direct feedback would help identify and rectify usability issues, ensuring that the app is tailored to their specific needs and preferences. This involvement would lead to a user-friendly and effective app. We will also establish online platforms where people with other disabilities can share their opinions, needs, and suggestions throughout the project's ideation phase, in order to broaden the accessibility of the app.
By seeking the opinions and needs of visually impaired individuals before app development begins, and throughout its development, the project can ensure that it is rooted in real-world experiences and addresses specific challenges. This inclusive approach fosters a sense of ownership and collaboration, ultimately resulting in an app that is better aligned with the needs and preferences of the intended users. It also demonstrates a commitment to user-centered design and inclusivity from the project's start.
Physical or other transformations
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
Innovative character
“ThisWay” is innovative when compared to mainstream actions in the field of accessibility for visually impaired people, such as braille signage, tactile maps, audio guides, or even verbal instructions, for several reasons.
Unlike static solutions like braille signage and tactile maps, the app provides real-time navigation information. It continuously updates the user on their current location, the nearest amenities, and the best route to their destination, ensuring adaptability to changing circumstances.
Verbal instructions or finding traditional signage often require assistance from others. Our indoor navigation app empowers visually impaired people to navigate indoor spaces independently, fostering a sense of autonomy and self-reliance. This places an emphasis on the emotional and social well-being of users, fostering a sense of belonging and resilience, addressing needs beyond mere wayfinding.
Lastly, mainstream solutions are usually limited to specific locations and lack flexibility. In contrast, the app can be customized for various indoor spaces, making it adaptable for shopping malls, airports, hospitals, universities, and other diverse environments. Besides, it offers an interactive and user-friendly interface that visually impaired individuals can easily use on their smartphones. This modern interface enhances the user experience and is more intuitive than traditional solutions.
Unlike static solutions like braille signage and tactile maps, the app provides real-time navigation information. It continuously updates the user on their current location, the nearest amenities, and the best route to their destination, ensuring adaptability to changing circumstances.
Verbal instructions or finding traditional signage often require assistance from others. Our indoor navigation app empowers visually impaired people to navigate indoor spaces independently, fostering a sense of autonomy and self-reliance. This places an emphasis on the emotional and social well-being of users, fostering a sense of belonging and resilience, addressing needs beyond mere wayfinding.
Lastly, mainstream solutions are usually limited to specific locations and lack flexibility. In contrast, the app can be customized for various indoor spaces, making it adaptable for shopping malls, airports, hospitals, universities, and other diverse environments. Besides, it offers an interactive and user-friendly interface that visually impaired individuals can easily use on their smartphones. This modern interface enhances the user experience and is more intuitive than traditional solutions.
Disciplines/knowledge reflected
"ThisWay" draws on knowledge from various fields, including Technology and App Development Specialists, Accessibility and Universal Design Experts, and Indoor Space Managers and Facilities Experts. This transdisciplinary approach brings together the strengths and knowledge of various fields to create a more effective, inclusive, and user-friendly indoor navigation app for visually impaired individuals, addressing their needs and challenges comprehensively.
Accessibility and Universal Design Experts, including the project leader of “ThisWay”, bring knowledge about accessibility standards and universal design principles to ensure that the app is inclusive and adheres to guidelines for accommodating individuals with disabilities. They collaborate with the Technology and App Development team to integrate accessibility features into the app, ensuring that it's user-friendly for visually impaired people.
The Technology and App Development team possesses expertise in software development, user experience (UX) design, and mobile app architecture. They are responsible for the actual development of the app, which includes coding, programming, and designing the app's architecture, ensuring it is compatible with various mobile devices and platforms, such as iOS and Android. They also oversee ongoing maintenance to keep the app up to date and functional, ensuring it remains a reliable tool.
Indoor Space Managers and Facilities Experts offer practical knowledge about the specific indoor environments where the app will be used, such as insights into the best routes and wayfinding strategies within their indoor spaces. They collaborate with the Technology and App Development team to integrate the app with physical infrastructure and optimize navigation, which involves providing detailed floor plans, maps, and information about the layout of the space. They may also assist in the integration of technologies like Bluetooth beacons to enhance navigation.
Accessibility and Universal Design Experts, including the project leader of “ThisWay”, bring knowledge about accessibility standards and universal design principles to ensure that the app is inclusive and adheres to guidelines for accommodating individuals with disabilities. They collaborate with the Technology and App Development team to integrate accessibility features into the app, ensuring that it's user-friendly for visually impaired people.
The Technology and App Development team possesses expertise in software development, user experience (UX) design, and mobile app architecture. They are responsible for the actual development of the app, which includes coding, programming, and designing the app's architecture, ensuring it is compatible with various mobile devices and platforms, such as iOS and Android. They also oversee ongoing maintenance to keep the app up to date and functional, ensuring it remains a reliable tool.
Indoor Space Managers and Facilities Experts offer practical knowledge about the specific indoor environments where the app will be used, such as insights into the best routes and wayfinding strategies within their indoor spaces. They collaborate with the Technology and App Development team to integrate the app with physical infrastructure and optimize navigation, which involves providing detailed floor plans, maps, and information about the layout of the space. They may also assist in the integration of technologies like Bluetooth beacons to enhance navigation.
Methodology used
The methodology or approach of our project follows a circular and continuous process, prioritizing user involvement, universal design, and ongoing improvement, making the project agile and adaptable in the long term. It includes the following steps:
1. Needs detection: The process begins with active involvement of visually impaired people who will use the app. Their insights and needs are crucial. This step includes interviews, surveys, and observational studies to understand the challenges they face in a specific indoor scenario, such as a shopping mall.
2. Design: It is based on users feedback and accessibility requirements. Designers work closely with visually impaired individuals to create an intuitive and user-friendly interface. We incorporate universal design principles to ensure that the app is not only accessible to visually impaired users but also inclusive for a wide range of potential users, including those without disabilities.
3. Development: App developers implement the designed features, including indoor mapping, real-time navigation, and voice commands. It also includes back-end systems for data storage and updates, allowing for the customization of the app to suit different indoor environments.
4. Pilot test: Visually impaired individuals participate in user testing to evaluate the app's usability and effectiveness, and identify any technical issues. Feedback is collected and used to make necessary adjustments.
5. Release: The app is released in a controlled scenario, starting with a limited user base. Early users provide feedback, allowing for further refinements before a wider release. Awareness campaigns are launched to promote the app's availability and its benefits for visually impaired individuals and the facilities implementing it.
6. Maintenance: Feedback is actively collected and integrated into updates. Users and facility managers play a crucial role in the app's ongoing improvement.
1. Needs detection: The process begins with active involvement of visually impaired people who will use the app. Their insights and needs are crucial. This step includes interviews, surveys, and observational studies to understand the challenges they face in a specific indoor scenario, such as a shopping mall.
2. Design: It is based on users feedback and accessibility requirements. Designers work closely with visually impaired individuals to create an intuitive and user-friendly interface. We incorporate universal design principles to ensure that the app is not only accessible to visually impaired users but also inclusive for a wide range of potential users, including those without disabilities.
3. Development: App developers implement the designed features, including indoor mapping, real-time navigation, and voice commands. It also includes back-end systems for data storage and updates, allowing for the customization of the app to suit different indoor environments.
4. Pilot test: Visually impaired individuals participate in user testing to evaluate the app's usability and effectiveness, and identify any technical issues. Feedback is collected and used to make necessary adjustments.
5. Release: The app is released in a controlled scenario, starting with a limited user base. Early users provide feedback, allowing for further refinements before a wider release. Awareness campaigns are launched to promote the app's availability and its benefits for visually impaired individuals and the facilities implementing it.
6. Maintenance: Feedback is actively collected and integrated into updates. Users and facility managers play a crucial role in the app's ongoing improvement.
How stakeholders are engaged
Multi-level engagement of stakeholders, from local to regional, national, and European, is essential to ensure the successful design and implementation of “ThisWay”. Each level of stakeholder engagement brings unique perspectives and resources to the project.
Local and regional community organizations serving visually impaired people play a fundamental role. They provide firsthand insights into the specific needs and challenges faced at the community level, and share their experiences with users and the accessibility barriers they face. The added value is that their involvement ensures that the app is tailored to the unique requirements of the local visually impaired community, addressing challenges specific to the region.
National-level organizations, both public and private, have the capacity to provide funding, resources, and advocacy for inclusive design and accessibility through awareness campaigns. Their involvement contributes to the financial sustainability of the project, expands its outreach, and ensures it aligns with national accessibility and inclusion goals.
European-level stakeholders, including EU bodies, multinational organizations, and international accessibility associations, can provide broader perspectives and resources. They can collaborate on research and development, funding, and the integration of best practices from various European countries. Their involvement is highly valuable, since it extends the project's impact beyond national boundaries, fosters international collaboration, and promotes cross-border standards and accessibility.
Engaging stakeholders at multiple levels ensures that the project is well-rounded, well-funded, and capable of addressing the diverse needs of visually impaired people while adhering to relevant standards and best practices. It leverages the strengths and resources of different stakeholders to create a more comprehensive and impactful solution.
Local and regional community organizations serving visually impaired people play a fundamental role. They provide firsthand insights into the specific needs and challenges faced at the community level, and share their experiences with users and the accessibility barriers they face. The added value is that their involvement ensures that the app is tailored to the unique requirements of the local visually impaired community, addressing challenges specific to the region.
National-level organizations, both public and private, have the capacity to provide funding, resources, and advocacy for inclusive design and accessibility through awareness campaigns. Their involvement contributes to the financial sustainability of the project, expands its outreach, and ensures it aligns with national accessibility and inclusion goals.
European-level stakeholders, including EU bodies, multinational organizations, and international accessibility associations, can provide broader perspectives and resources. They can collaborate on research and development, funding, and the integration of best practices from various European countries. Their involvement is highly valuable, since it extends the project's impact beyond national boundaries, fosters international collaboration, and promotes cross-border standards and accessibility.
Engaging stakeholders at multiple levels ensures that the project is well-rounded, well-funded, and capable of addressing the diverse needs of visually impaired people while adhering to relevant standards and best practices. It leverages the strengths and resources of different stakeholders to create a more comprehensive and impactful solution.
Global challenges
One of the most significant global challenges is ensuring the full inclusion and participation in society of people with disabilities. It is a broad challenge that affects millions of individuals worldwide. At its core, this problem stems from societal, physical, and attitudinal barriers that hinder the full participation and equal opportunities of people with disabilities in various aspects of life.
In specific terms, one of the impediments to achieving such full social inclusion is the lack of accessibility. Many public spaces, buildings, transportation systems, and digital platforms lack the necessary accessibility features to accommodate people with disabilities. This physical inaccessibility restricts their mobility and limits their ability to engage in various activities and fully participate in society.
This lack of accessibility worsens in indoor spaces. While outdoor environments can be navigated using traditional GPS, indoor spaces, such as malls, airports, and large buildings, pose a unique challenge as GPS signals are often unreliable or unavailable indoors. In this regard, visually impaired people present specific challenges, such as the need for alternative ways to gather information and navigate indoor spaces independently. “ThisWay” becomes the specific solution to this widespread problem.
The app offers a way for visually impaired individuals to navigate indoor spaces, eliminating the barriers they face in accessing information and moving around independently within these environments. In This Way, the development of the app addresses the broader global challenge related to the inclusion of people with disabilities and the elimination of accessibility barriers, while also providing a specific solution tailored to the unique needs of visually impaired people within indoor spaces. The app acts as a bridge between these global challenges and the specific concerns of visually impaired individuals in local contexts.
In specific terms, one of the impediments to achieving such full social inclusion is the lack of accessibility. Many public spaces, buildings, transportation systems, and digital platforms lack the necessary accessibility features to accommodate people with disabilities. This physical inaccessibility restricts their mobility and limits their ability to engage in various activities and fully participate in society.
This lack of accessibility worsens in indoor spaces. While outdoor environments can be navigated using traditional GPS, indoor spaces, such as malls, airports, and large buildings, pose a unique challenge as GPS signals are often unreliable or unavailable indoors. In this regard, visually impaired people present specific challenges, such as the need for alternative ways to gather information and navigate indoor spaces independently. “ThisWay” becomes the specific solution to this widespread problem.
The app offers a way for visually impaired individuals to navigate indoor spaces, eliminating the barriers they face in accessing information and moving around independently within these environments. In This Way, the development of the app addresses the broader global challenge related to the inclusion of people with disabilities and the elimination of accessibility barriers, while also providing a specific solution tailored to the unique needs of visually impaired people within indoor spaces. The app acts as a bridge between these global challenges and the specific concerns of visually impaired individuals in local contexts.
Learning transferred to other parties
One of the main characteristics of this project is that “ThisWay” is not an app designed for a single context or place, but has great transferability and replicability. It is a highly versatile and scalable initiative which can indeed be replicated or transferred to various places, groups of beneficiaries, and contexts.
On one hand, the project's customization approach can be replicated in different indoor places such as shopping malls, airports, train stations, hospitals, museums, universities, and more. This versatility ensures that the app can be used in a wide range of indoor settings.
Besides, the technology and methodologies developed for indoor navigation can be extended to outdoor environments. This can benefit visually impaired people in navigating city streets, parks, natural environments, and other outdoor locations, enhancing their independence and mobility anywhere.
The project's commitment to universal design principles, which advocate for creating products and environments that are accessible and usable by as many people as possible, can serve as a model for designing a wide range of accessible products and services, from websites to public transportation systems, which can be enhanced by the collaboration with European and international stakeholders.
On the other hand, the principles of design for all can be applied to make the app also useful for individuals with other disabilities, such as those with mobility impairments or cognitive disabilities. Customizations and accessibility features can be tailored to their specific needs, promoting social inclusion. Moreover, the project's emphasis on user-friendly interfaces and intuitive design can make the app valuable not only to people with disabilities but to the general public as well. It can be extended for use by anyone, including tourists, students, the elderly, and individuals unfamiliar with a particular environment.
On one hand, the project's customization approach can be replicated in different indoor places such as shopping malls, airports, train stations, hospitals, museums, universities, and more. This versatility ensures that the app can be used in a wide range of indoor settings.
Besides, the technology and methodologies developed for indoor navigation can be extended to outdoor environments. This can benefit visually impaired people in navigating city streets, parks, natural environments, and other outdoor locations, enhancing their independence and mobility anywhere.
The project's commitment to universal design principles, which advocate for creating products and environments that are accessible and usable by as many people as possible, can serve as a model for designing a wide range of accessible products and services, from websites to public transportation systems, which can be enhanced by the collaboration with European and international stakeholders.
On the other hand, the principles of design for all can be applied to make the app also useful for individuals with other disabilities, such as those with mobility impairments or cognitive disabilities. Customizations and accessibility features can be tailored to their specific needs, promoting social inclusion. Moreover, the project's emphasis on user-friendly interfaces and intuitive design can make the app valuable not only to people with disabilities but to the general public as well. It can be extended for use by anyone, including tourists, students, the elderly, and individuals unfamiliar with a particular environment.
Keywords
Accessibility
Social inclusion
Sustainability
Navigation
Empowerment
