UK: London Overground operator Arriva Rail London has funded a trial of an audio navigation app from Waymap which is designed to help people with visual impairments travel more independently.
The app has previously been tested at Birmingham International and stations in Los Angeles and Washington DC, but this was the first trial of navigation throughout a full journey, with 10 blind volunteers travelling from Shepherd’s Bush to Willesden Junction.
They used Waymap to enter the station, make their way to the platform, board, alight and exit at the destination. all said they would be more likely to use public transport if Waymap were available, and most said it would make them more confident to travel on their own and to navigate around unknown places.
Waymap will use the results of the trial to further understand the needs of its users and the challenges they face, and to validate its current technical approach.
Waymap works both indoors and outdoors, and does not rely on external signals such as GPS, wi-fi, Bluetooth or mobile data, Ethan Brooks, Director of External Affairs of Waymap, told Rail Business UK. Instead, it uses data from the internal sensors of the user’s smartphone to determine their position within a predefined map and to provide accurate audio navigation instructions.
‘Navigation apps are essential to life in cities and on public transport, but the existing apps out there don’t work for everyone and don’t work inside for anyone’, said Waymap CEO Dr Tom Pey, who is himself blind. ‘Without Waymap, the potential for cities to thrive as spaces for everyone will be limited and people with disabilities will continue to be excluded, need extra help and resources to make a journey, or remain isolated at home.’
Charlotte Whitfield, Customer Experience Director at Arriva Rail London, said ‘it was important to us to support this unique trial and show there are cost-effective solutions available to make travelling on public transport more accessible. Waymap’s technology needs to be rolled out across entire transport networks and in public spaces to provide a seamless experience for users, so we are hopeful the results of our trial will help them secure more support for their rollout.’
