An app designed to help visually impaired or blind pedestrians use public transit debuted at a Washington subway station last Tuesday.
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority is partnering with Waymap and Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind that aims to make mass transit more accessible for people who are blind or visually impaired.
Does the app use GPS?
The app does not use GPS and can operate regardless of cellphone signal strength indoors or outdoors. It loads detailed mapping data onto a smartphone and uses motion sensors on the phone to offer precise directions.
How does it work?
Waymap broadcasts step-by-step and turn-by-turn navigation verbally without GPS or a cell signal.
It takes precise and detailed map data and puts that with sensor-fusion technology.
Waymap aims to expand travel options for blind and visually impaired people with step-by-step audio directions that it says are accurate up to 3 feet (0.9 meter) throughout a trip.
Where is Waymap being deployed?
The Waymap app is available at three Metro stations: Braddock Road, Brookland and Silver Spring.
Waymap will be deployed in phases with the goal of deploying the app at up to 30 Metro train stations and nearly 1,000 bus stops by September and across the entire Metro system by early 2023.
“It’s part of our mission to make Metro accessible to all people at every walk of life,” said Metro CFO Dennis Anosike.
