[Blindtlk] Navigation System for Museum

[Ericka]

Amazing!

Ericka Short
"What is right is not always popular; what is popular is not always right."

 from my iPhone

> On Feb 8, 2016, at 11:48 PM, David Andrews via blindtlk <blindtlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
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> The North Carolina Museum of Natural Science today previewed what they billed as a first for museums nationwide, an iphone based indoor navigation system for the Museum’s Nature Resource Center.  The system is based on the BlindSquare or BlindSquare Event App and a series of small “iBeacon” transponders.  The system communicates through Bluetooth and requires an i-phone as it requires the internal compass to function.
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> In the case of the Nature Resource Center, 30 iBeacon transponders were emplaced in the building, each transponder covering a 20 to 50 square foot area.  As the BlindSquare app picks up a specific transponder, it generates a tone.  The app then announces the location and describes the environment, based on the compass reading.  For example, immediately as you enter the building, the transponder reveals that you are at the entrance.  Pointing your iphone straight ahead, you are informed that you are in the main foyer and that the flooring is marble.  Pointing the device to the east, the transponder informs you that the main stairway is to the east and that the flooring is carpeted.  Pointing the device to the west, the device identifies the elevators, rest rooms, Planet Café and museum store.  As you move through the building, you can orient yourself to your surroundings based on the specific transponder that you are receiving and the programming for the specific transponder.
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> The navigation system was a joint project of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Science, BlindSquare and Ed Summers, the manager of the accessibility team at SAS.
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> Speaking with James Benton with the Raleigh Commission on Disabilities, he stated that they would like to see the system adopted by the local shopping malls.  They would also like to see the navigation system emplaced at the Raleigh airport as well as the new Union Station rail facility.
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> Carl R. Keehn
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>        David Andrews and long white cane Harry.
> E-Mail:  dandrews at visi.com or david.andrews at nfbnet.org
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