Zig Mapping Building a mobile app for people with disabilities The - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Zig Mapping

Building a mobile app for people with disabilities

The Zig Masters

Patrick Burke Coordinator, Disabilities & Computing Program Yoh Kawano Campus GIS Coordinator/Faculty Institute for Digital Research and Education You may remember him from presentations such as:

• A Map for the Future: Measuring Radiation

Levels in Fukushima, Japan Albert Kochaphum GIS Explorer

The Zig Challenge

• a. Existing campus maps not

accessible to visually impaired; can’t keep up with changing campus environment (construction!) An Accessible Pathways map does exist, however.

• b. Existing GPS systems can be

accessible, but don’t have information about campus (except Royce Hall for “Entertainment”, & Carl’s Jr.)

The Previous Solution

a. Blind users can receive Orientation & Mobility (O&M) training, usually on an individual basis. b. Wheelchair users can sometimes rely on visual signage to mark accessible paths. c. Otherwise, much trial-&-error is needed. Each person develops a “library” of accessible paths they know. d. If this information is shared at all, it is a time-consuming process, usually only from individual to individual.

New solution: Zig it!

• a. We looked at some existing crowd-sourced

sites (http://wheelmap.org/en/map; for discovering & reporting wheelchair- accessible routes).

• b. We discussed categories of accessible

features to mark, based on importance for various disability populations.

• c. We discussed technical limitations, such

as GPS accuracy.

• d. Yoh & Albert created the Zig! Form!

Zig Home Screen

Zig Search Results

Zig Search Results cont.

Closing Zigs

a. Immediate next step is technical work to complete map prototype & create accessible interfaces. b. Funding for Army Of Students to map ALL

• f the campus.

c. Work with departments (Facilities) to add existing GPS location data. d. Produce a mobile app that can: i. Help a blind traveler avoid construction zones; ii. Let a wheelchair user plan an accessible route, or change destination

• n the fly;

iii. Help lost freshmen find their classes!