Researchers Create the First GPS for the Blind
From: UAB Barcelona - 06/21/2012 

Autonomous University of Barcelona researchers have developed OnTheBus, an
Android application for traveling around big cities. They say its universal
design principles make it appropriate for people with visual, hearing, or
cognitive impairments. OnTheBus features a compass and accelerometer, and
support for global positioning system, voice recognition, and 3G or WiFi
technologies. The app provides a list of optimal routes, the user makes a
choice, and then the app guides the user to the nearest bus stop and
indicates the amount of time remaining until the bus arrives. Once on the
bus, the app informs the user of the number of stops, signals when it is time
to press the button to exit, and continues to guide the user to the
destination. The researchers have made the app available at Google Play, and
it can be used in Barcelona, Madrid, and Rome. They also plan to make the app
available for other markets, and expand it beyond the current Spanish,
Catalan, English, and Italian language versions. The team also wants to
incorporate other transportation services such as taxis, use augmented
reality techniques to locate stop signs and public transport stops, and
integrate social networks. 

Read the entire article at:
http://www.uab.es/servlet/Satellite/latest-news/news-detail/researchers-create-the-first-gps-for-the-blind-1096476786473.html?noticiaid=1340258260255

Link:
GPS-Enabled Public Transit Apps (with non-English video 7:01)
http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/onthebus