What electronic mobility aids and smartphone apps can help me find my way around?

Devices and Software

Global Positioning System (GPS) apps, devices and software can give you information about your current location and how to get to your destination. They use a combination of maps and audible directions to help with navigation.

The Victor Reader Trek is a handheld standalone device that combines book reading and media playback with navigation guidance technology that announces streets, landmarks, bus stops, restaurants and other places of interest around you. You can also record routes to your favourite destinations and save locations.

Stellar Trek offers GPS navigation guidance only. It will announce streets, landmarks, bus stops, restaurants and other places of interest around you to guide you to your destination.

Ultra Cane is a smart cane, equipped with an ultrasound system that provides a hazard protection envelope in front of the head and chest of the user. Two ultrasound transducers provide you with range data on close potential hazards, such as plants, people, road signs, and over-hanging branches. More information can be found on the Ultra Cane website.

Smartphone apps

GPS Navigation usually comes installed for free on most smartphones. Apple Maps is the iOS built in GPS navigation tool on iphones and Google Maps on Android phones. Both can give you verbal directions, show the route on a map which you can scroll through to locate nearby points of interest along your route such as cash machines or public toilets. Other options include:
  • Waze - navigation and live traffic
  • Blind Square - indoor and outdoor navigation app (only available on Apple iOS).
  • DotWalker - navigation app providing turn-by-turn navigation to and from an address or saved point. (Android only)

For more information on planning a journey see How can I plan my journey in advance?

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