SBIR-STTR Award

This project develops a technology solution to address the indoor navigation needs experienced by people with visual disabilities. Current navigation aids use GPS technology, which cannot be used indoors, or pre-loaded maps. This navigation aid may be used in indoor or outdoor spaces with no prior mapping required. The project obtains input and insights from end users and other stakeholders, resulting in hardware and smartphone apps in a proof-of-concept system. Usability testing and evaluation includes potential end users to prove feasibility and user acceptance of the design.

This project develops a technology solution to address the indoor navigation needs experienced by people with visual disabilities. This technology has several advantages over other wayfinding approaches such as GPS, in that it requires no infrastructure in indoor spaces nor does it require maps to be created prior to navigation. Thus, it is applicable to any unfamiliar indoor or outdoor space. The Phase II project includes building upon the Phase I proof-of-concept device to develop an improved, miniaturized hardware device; implementing a fully-functional smartphone app; iteratively conducting periodic pilot studies as the technology progresses; and finally conducting in-clinic and take-home studies in which potential end users use the device in their everyday lives. The project proves the functionality and user-acceptance of this product for improved indoor navigation, giving insights into the degree to which it enhances quality of life of users with visual disabilities.