The navigation app of the future ... connects to humans!
06-02-2020
The concluding symposium of the research project 'EyeBeacons: Wayfinding in Public Spaces' -from the research group Digital Life- took place on Tuesday December 10., 2019. With more than 40 participants involved, it was a very successful meeting that provided 'food for thought' towards the future and scaling up the EyeBeacons navigation app.
Various visually impaired participants themselves as well as stakeholders and consortium partners were present - for example from Royal Visio, Bartiméus, Info.nl, the Eye Association, Client Interest Amsterdam, Saxion University of Applied Sciences, HAN University of Applied Sciences and of course the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences.
The various presentations brought insight and clarification, also from the point of view of the experience experts. For example, it is of great importance that a navigation app can be tailor-made and specifically meets the wishes of the target group. Where one user mainly needs vibration signals, for example, to find his way, the other finds sound useful for navigation.
Furthermore, it appears that 'wayfinding in the future' must be dynamic in nature - no longer focused on one static location - and moreover explicitly take the context into consideration. The starting point also becomes more 'What can I do' instead of 'Where am I?'
The final discussion with the input of critical panel members caused quite a stir. The following four provocative statements were the reason for this:
The navigation app of the future ...
- …… is not an app
- …… takes over the role of mobility trainers
- …… focuses primarily on supplementing the senses
- …… does not work with beacons
The audience agreed unanimously that a good mobility coach does not teach a person with visual impairment fixed routes but coaches on skills such as trust, independence and courage.
And what is expected overall from the navigation app of the future? That it delivers tailor-made solutions and fits well with 'people'! This is fully in line with the people-centered approach, for which Somaya Ben Allouch -Digital Life lecturer- advocates such as in her recent Lectoral Reason.
The EyeBeacons project including this final symposium was a great success. We are happy to continue with current and new partners with a follow-up study in 2020!