Category: Innovation

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Built Environment Digital Information Innovation Project

Spotlight on Innovative Projects

Advancing Universal Design and Inclusion

We are on the brink of transformative change that promises to enhance inclusion for individuals who are blind, deafblind, or partially sighted. Earlier this summer, two groundbreaking project applications were submitted to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), led by prominent institutions: the Shared Reality Lab at McGill University and the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). These initiatives unite a distinguished consortium of partners, including the University of British Columbia’s Special Education Department, BC Provincial Resource Centre for the Visually Impaired, and the Institute Nazareth et Louis Braille. 

Gateway Navigation: A Catalyst for Change 

Gateway Navigation plays a pivotal role in fostering dynamic collaborations aimed at addressing universal design and accessibility needs. With its expertise in bridging diverse institutions, Gateway Navigation is instrumental in spearheading projects that tackle pressing accessibility challenges. 

Project 1: Equitable Access to Reading Materials 

Lead Applicant: Shared Reality Lab, McGill University
Supported By: University of British Columbia’s Special Education Department, BC Provincial Resource Centre for the Visually Impaired 

Objective: This project targets significant barriers for blind and low-vision (BLV) students, especially concerning access to educational materials with graphics. The goals are to: 

  • Produce curated content in alternative formats. 
  • Develop an accessible online repository hosted initially at McGill University. 
  • Release all code and documentation as open-source under GPL/AGPL licenses. 
  • Utilize technologies like the Humanware APH Monarch dynamic pin array tablet to offer interactive, rich experiences in BRF/eBRF, audio, and AI-enhanced audio-tactile formats. 

Key Activities: 

  • Content Curation: Collaborate with educators to select materials for conversion. 
  • Document Format Development: Create and refine document formats and audio rendering. 
  • Web-Based Engine Development: Build an engine for interactive experiences. 
  • User Evaluation: Refine experiences based on feedback from BLV students and teachers. 
  • Content Storage and Access: Implement and maintain a server-based system. 

Expected Outcomes: 

  • Enhanced access to educational materials for BLV students. 
  • Creation of accessible reading units. 
  • Development of an AI-assisted pipeline for multimodal educational documents. 
  • Positive feedback from at least 50 teachers and students. 

Project 2: Inclusivity in Motion: Living Lab for Assistive Indoor Navigation 

Lead Applicant: British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT)
Supported By: Gateway Navigation, McGill University’s Shared Reality Lab, INBL – Institute Nazareth et Louis Braille, Aira Explorer Innovation Group 

Objective: The Inclusivity in Motion project aims to improve indoor navigation through accessible digital maps and smart wearables. The focus is on enhancing independence and safety in complex environments such as airports and shopping centres. 

Key Activities: 

  • Digital Map Creation: Develop accessible, real-time digital indoor maps. 
  • Smart Wearable Integration: Incorporate smart wearables for seamless navigation. 
  • Living Lab Implementation: Pilot tests at Vancouver and Montreal transportation hubs. 
  • Public Education: Raise awareness about inclusivity and accessibility. 

Expected Outcomes: 

  • Increased accessibility for over 1.4 million people with disabilities. 
  • Enhanced public awareness of inclusivity and accessibility. 
  • Professional development opportunities in universal design for students from BCIT and McGill. 

Call to Action 

As we await the outcome of these funding applications, we invite like-minded individuals and organizations to connect with us. Let’s collaborate to drive the future of universal design and inclusion.  

If you share our vision and are interested in exploring partnership opportunities, please reach out. Let’s join forces to remove barriers and advance inclusion, paving the way for a more accessible and inclusive future for all. Email us at: partners@gnc3.com 

 

 

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Categories
Awareness Innovation

NAAW2024 Post 5: Gateway Navigation and Living Accessibility Lab Model

Living Accessibility Labs: Innovating Inclusive Spaces

Introduction to Living Accessibility Labs

Living Accessibility Labs are dynamic environments where innovative accessibility solutions are tested and refined. These labs are set up in real-world settings, such as public spaces, workplaces, and schools, allowing researchers and developers to observe and improve how accessible technologies perform in everyday situations. The goal is to create inclusive spaces that meet the diverse needs of all individuals, particularly those with disabilities.

Creating Inclusive Deployments

Setting up a Living Accessibility Lab involves several key steps to ensure that it effectively addresses accessibility challenges:

  1. Identify the Venue: Choose locations where accessibility improvements are most needed, such as busy public transit hubs, educational institutions, or community centers.
  2. Collaborate with Stakeholders: Work with local governments, businesses, and disability advocacy groups to gather insights and gain support.
  3. Install Technologies: Implement various accessibility technologies, such as digital wayfinding systems, assistive listening devices, and accessible public kiosks.
  4. Engage Users: Invite individuals with disabilities to use the space and provide feedback on their experiences.

These steps ensure that the lab is set up to address real-world needs and challenges, making the results more applicable and beneficial.

Examples of Current or Planned Deployments

Living Accessibility Labs can be found in various locations, each focusing on different aspects of accessibility. For instance, a lab in a busy train station might test new navigation apps and tactile paving for visually impaired commuters. Another lab in a university might evaluate accessible classroom technologies, such as speech-to-text services and adjustable desks. These real-world deployments provide valuable data and insights that drive the development of more effective accessibility solutions.

Gathering Data and Insights

Collecting data is a crucial part of Living Accessibility Labs. Various methods are used to gather information on how well the accessibility solutions are working:

  • User Feedback: Direct feedback from individuals using the technologies provides firsthand insights into what works well and what needs improvement.
  • Surveys and Interviews: Detailed surveys and interviews with users help gather in-depth information about their experiences.
  • Observational Studies: Researchers observe how users interact with the technologies in real-time, identifying any challenges or obstacles.
  • Usage Analytics: Data from digital devices and apps can show how often and in what ways the technologies are being used.

By combining these data collection methods, researchers gain a comprehensive understanding of the effectiveness of the accessibility solutions.

Impact on Venues, App Developers, and End Users

Living Accessibility Labs offer numerous benefits for various stakeholders:

  • Venues: Locations hosting these labs often see increased foot traffic and positive public relations as they become known as leaders in accessibility.
  • App Developers: Developers gain valuable insights that help them refine their products, making them more effective and user-friendly.
  • End Users: Individuals with disabilities experience enhanced accessibility, leading to greater independence and an improved quality of life.

These labs create a positive feedback loop, where continuous improvements benefit all parties involved.

Future Directions

The future of Living Accessibility Labs is bright, with plans to expand their reach and impact:

  • More Locations: Expanding the number of labs in various settings, including rural areas and small towns, to ensure broader accessibility improvements.
  • New Technologies: Continuously incorporating the latest advancements in accessibility technology to keep the labs at the cutting edge.
  • Increased Collaboration: Partnering with more organizations and stakeholders to enhance the effectiveness and reach of the labs.
  • Community Engagement: Encouraging greater involvement from the disabled community to ensure that the solutions developed truly meet their needs.

By pursuing these directions, Living Accessibility Labs will continue to drive innovation and inclusivity.

Gateway Navigation’s Commitment

Gateway Navigation is proud to integrate the Living Accessibility Lab model into their projects. This commitment aligns with their dedication to fostering a more accessible and inclusive world. By leveraging real-world testing environments and continuous community engagement, Gateway Navigation ensures their solutions are effective and user-centric. Join us in supporting these efforts and stay tuned for more updates on our ongoing projects and developments. Together, we can make a significant difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities.

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Categories
Awareness Innovation

NAAW2024 Post 4: Gateway Navigation and Buy Social Canada

Gateway Navigation: Social Procurement Supplier

Introduction to Buy Social Canada

Buy Social Canada is a forward-thinking program that supports social enterprise businesses that focus on making a positive social impact alongside earning profit. By encouraging organizations to purchase goods and services from social enterprises, Buy Social Canada helps to drive positive social change and build more inclusive communities. This program underscores the importance of supporting businesses dedicated to societal improvement.

Looking Through the Social Procurement Lens

Social procurement is an approach to purchasing that considers not only the cost and quality of goods and services but also their social impact. Instead of just choosing the cheapest option, social procurement prioritizes suppliers that create positive social outcomes, such as providing jobs for disadvantaged groups, supporting local businesses, or using environmentally sustainable practices. This means that when organizations buy products or services, they also help to build stronger communities and support ethical practices. Importantly, social procurement emphasizes accessibility and inclusion, ensuring that people with disabilities have opportunities for employment and training.

By focusing on social procurement, organizations can tackle broader issues like inequality and environmental sustainability while promoting accessibility and inclusion. Choosing to buy from companies that employ and train people with disabilities, or that are committed to reducing carbon emissions, helps promote social inclusion and environmental health. This approach is particularly relevant in Canada, where one out of three Canadians over the age of 16 is either a working-age person with a disability or a senior who has a higher potential of developing a disability through aging. By integrating social procurement practices, organizations ensure that public and private spending contributes to the greater good, creating benefits that go beyond the immediate transaction and supporting a more inclusive and equitable society.

Gateway Navigation's Commitment

Gateway Navigation is proud to be a Buy Social Canada supplier. As a company dedicated to enhancing accessibility and inclusion, Gateway Navigation aligns with Buy Social Canada's principles by focusing on creating solutions that benefit individuals with disabilities. Through their innovative digital information, accessible mapping, and navigation advocacy projects, Gateway Navigation helps make the world more navigable for everyone, ensuring that people with disabilities can move through their environments with confidence and ease.

Subcontracting with Leading-Edge Technology

To ensure the highest quality of their services, Gateway Navigation carefully selects technology partners that share their commitment to accessibility and inclusion. By subcontracting with leading-edge technology providers, they can incorporate the latest advancements into their products, offering users the most effective and reliable solutions. This approach ensures that Gateway Navigation remains at the forefront of innovation in the field of accessible navigation, both in built and digital environments.

Engaging the Disabled Community

Gateway Navigation is not only led by individuals with disabilities but also deeply believes in involving the disabled community in their projects. By actively seeking feedback and input from individuals with disabilities, they can better understand their needs and challenges. This engagement ensures that the solutions they develop are truly user-centric and effective. Continuous improvement, driven by the insights of the disabled community, is a cornerstone of Gateway Navigation's approach.

Conclusion

Gateway Navigation's role as a Buy Social Canada supplier underscores their dedication to social impact and accessibility. Through innovative projects, strategic partnerships, and active community engagement, they are making significant strides in creating a more inclusive society. By supporting social enterprises like Gateway Navigation, we can all contribute to building a world where accessibility is a priority and everyone can navigate and thrive independently.

 

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Categories
Digital Information Innovation

NAAW2024 Post 2: Camera Vision, Smartphones, and Wearables 

Camera Vision - Transforming Accessibility 

Introduction to Camera Vision Technology 

One of the most exciting recent developments is camera vision. This technology, using smartphones and other devices with smart cameras, assists people who are blind, deafblind, and partially sighted to explore and navigate more effectively and independently. 

For simplicity, we will refer to all accessibility uses of a smart camera as camera vision, even though they encompass different technologies and uses. Here are the three main categories of camera vision: 

Categories of Camera Vision 

  1. Human Assistance: Pioneered by apps like Aira Explorer and Be My Eyes, where live agents assist users in real time. 
  1. Automated Navigation: Utilizes machine learning, algorithms, and smartphone sensors to connect pictures of a venue's layout with images obtained through the smartphone camera. Goodmaps Explorer is a pioneer using this technology, and more recently, NaviLens has joined with some pilots. 
  1. Large Language Models: Tools like ChatGPT analyze pictures and match them to vast datasets, identifying elements in the images and providing information about them. Visit Be My AI, Seeing AI, or the soon-to-be-released Aira AI. 

Smartphones vs. Smart Glasses 

While camera vision is easily accessible through users’ smartphones due to their affordability, there are ergonomic challenges. Holding a phone in hand or using a lanyard to provide a stable, unobstructed view of the user’s surroundings can be cumbersome and impractical. Despite these challenges, smartphones offer a full and accessible experience, making them a popular choice for many users. 

Overview of Camera Vision Wearables 

Smart glasses are intuitively seen as the ideal solution for providing hands-free, continuous assistance. However, affordable and accessible options have been elusive. Current smart glasses, such as those from OrCam or Envision, are expensive and tied to proprietary platforms, costing thousands of dollars with ongoing fees. Lower-cost alternatives like Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses and Seleste glasses from a Canadian startup are more affordable but still locked to proprietary platforms, limiting their usability with other accessibility tools. The potential of well-designed smart devices, offering superior user experiences, remains high. Affordable and accessible smart glasses promise to significantly enhance the capabilities of people who are blind, deafblind, and partially sighted in exploring their surroundings. 

Camera Vision Apps Ready to Go Anytime, Anywhere 

Enough about technology; let us dive into some apps you can use right now. Below are download links for visual interpreter apps. Aira Explorer is a paid service but offers a 5-minute free trial, while Be My Eyes AI and Seeing AI are both free. Try them out and share your experiences with us! 

Visual Interpreter Apps: 

Aira Explorer: Elevating Visual Interpretation with Expert Human Touch 

For years, Aira has been a beacon of support for the blind and low-vision community. Its Visual Interpreters offer real-time assistance through a secure and reliable platform. Aira's commitment to accessibility is evident through partnerships with major companies, educational institutions, and state governments. The collaboration with the State of Colorado under the "Colorado for All" initiative exemplifies Aira's dedication to breaking barriers in state-operated buildings, colleges, state parks, and digital services. 

Be My Eyes AI: Unleashing the Power of ChatGPT for Global Accessibility 

Be My Eyes, a free service relying on volunteer remote agents, has integrated ChatGPT into its ecosystem, opening up new possibilities for visual interpretation. This development allows users to not only recognize but also analyze and extrapolate information from images, transforming the way people who are blind, deafblind, and partially sighted navigate the world. The volunteer-based model of Be My Eyes, coupled with ChatGPT, provides a cost-free alternative with unlimited access, offering significant global impact. 

Seeing AI from Microsoft: Bridging the Gap with Intelligent Visual Assistance 

Microsoft's Seeing AI uses cloud and AI to transform the visual world into an audible experience. With features like Short Text, Documents, Products, Person, and Scene, Seeing AI empowers users with real-time information about their surroundings. The integration of Scenes adds a layer of spatial awareness, enhancing the overall user experience. Notably, Microsoft is a major shareholder in OpenAI, the developers of ChatGPT, which brings notable similarities between Be My Eyes AI and Seeing AI. 

Choosing the Right Fit for Today and Beyond 

The choice between Aira, Be My Eyes, or Seeing AI depends on individual preferences and specific requirements. Aira's personalized, expert human touch stands out, while Be My Eyes offers a cost-free alternative with the power of ChatGPT. Seeing AI, with its intelligent features, provides another dimension to visual interpretation. 

Camera vision, smartphones, and wearables are revolutionizing accessibility for people who are blind, deafblind, and partially sighted. With their ability to provide real-time assistance and enhance independent navigation, these devices offer significant enhancement for assisting users in exploring the world around them. 

 

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Categories
Built Environment Innovation Uncategorized

Review: Goodmaps Explore Indoor Navigation App

Enhancing Independent Indoor Travel for People with Vision Loss

For people who are blind or low vision, navigating unfamiliar or complex indoor spaces can be a challenging task. However, over the last few years, there has been an emergence of location-based indoor wayfinding technology that has the potential to revolutionize how people with vision loss navigate indoor environments.

One such technology is Goodmaps Explore (Indoor), which I recently had the opportunity to test in a full deployment. While it does not replace traditional mobility aids such as a white cane or guide dog, it provides an experience that is as close to GPS as I have encountered indoors. For people with vision loss. This means greater independence and choice when traveling to places like the CNIB Offices located at the Royal Centre Mall in New Westminster, BC, Canada.

“Goodmaps now supports two separate Apps. Goodmaps Explore (indoor) and Goodmaps Outdoor”

The Goodmaps Explore deployment is the result of a collaboration between CNIB, Royal Centre Mall, and the Goodmaps Explore Team. This collaboration has resulted in a service benefiting both people who are blind and sighted.

As someone who has been involved in the development of location-based indoor wayfinding technology for many years, I have tested several other apps with promising results in trial situations. However, my experience with Goodmaps Explore has been the first full deployment I have had the opportunity to test, and I am impressed with its potential.

It is important to note that while technology like Goodmaps is a step forward in enhancing independent indoor travel for people with vision loss, it does not replace good orientation and mobility training. Proper training, combined with location-based wayfinding technology, can provide a greater sense of independence and freedom for people with vision loss.

My Experience Testing Goodmaps Explore (indoor) App

Recently, I joined ten other participants who were blind or low vision, with a mix of self-guiding, white cane, and guide dog users. The route we were to navigate took us from the second-floor CNIB office main meeting room down to the main floor entrance to Royal Centre Mall and then returning to the CNIB meeting room where we began our journey. The length of the route was about 350 meters in both directions.

Julia Bonnet from the CNIB and Mike May from Goodmaps began the morning by providing a high-level overview of the Goodmaps Explore app. They took the participants through the process of downloading and setting preferences for the app. Mike mentioned that he used a lanyard to hold his smartphone and its camera at chest level for hands-free use of the app.

I had been using a beta version of Goodmaps via TestFlight. But Mike informed me that the beta version was not being actively updated, and I should use the publicly available store app, which I did on my iPhone SE (2nd generation). Once Goodmaps updated to the public version, the app immediately identified the Royal Centre Mall as the closest Goodmaps enabled venue. FYI: the app is available in both iOS and Android formats.

Julia asked all participants to set their route preference to "no steps," which meant escalators and stair routes were not included as part of any journey. Instead, we would all be routed via Royal Centre Mall elevators. This is a great feature for people with mobility challenges, but I thought it was an unnecessary requirement given the highly mobile group of participants.

Both downloading the app and setting preferences were easy. However, the setting of the starting location and destination were a little more time-consuming, for which Julia provided some suggestions for streamlining. Mike indicated that the user experience piece for setting routes was being improved for future versions. That said, we were able to select destinations dependent on the floor they were located, which reduced the number of destinations to scroll.

I was paired up with John, a white cane user, and I was traveling with my guide dog Parker. John and I decided not to use headsets with our phones, using the voice-over audio of our phones as a means to stay connected, rather than having to check on each other's location during the route.

Before we started the route, Mike mentioned that the app had occasionally shut down when in use and asked us to let him know of any similar occurrences. This did happen with me when trying to set the return journey from the main Mall entrance. That said, it was fairly simple to restart the app, and it is something the developers are aware of and working to resolve.

Once the button was pressed to start the route, Mike suggested keeping our smartphone cameras pointed towards the ground, which puts the app into a pause mode. Then, lifting the smartphone camera to be pointed directly forward initiates the app. When activated, it asked me to scan the room to establish my location. The app then confirmed and provided the beginning of my route to move forward four meters, updating the directions as we moved through our journey.

John, using his white cane, traveled a little slower than the pace I traveled with my guide, which worked to John's benefit, as the lag time between the app registering its location and the next set of directions lagged behind the pace I was traveling.

The sporadic lag time in directions and at times long delay between instructions is the major hurdle the Goodmaps Team need to overcome. That said, with a little patience it is a very effective tool in guiding users through a journey.

In addition, the high battery power consumption by the app is also important for users to be aware and take steps to conserve power or have a recharger at hand. Found about ten percent power drain for every ten minutes of use with my iPhone SE.

Within Goodmaps, there is also a link to the remote assistant app “Be My Eyes”. Users can connect if they need assistance to identify there surroundings or help with other visual information required.

In regard to Goodmaps Explore virtual map option. I found the feature lacking in flexibility. I had previously used the Accessibuild App. Which provided instructions for the whole journey in steps or metres along with the option to identify all stores, room numbers and architectural elements that could assist in your real time journey. Found this type of information really useful for trip planning and hope it will be expanded upon in Goodmaps Explore.

Summary

We used the Goodmaps Explore App to navigate a route from the CNIB office to the Royal Centre Mall main entrance and back. Participants were given an overview of the app by Julia Bonnet from CNIB and Mike May from Goodmaps before setting preferences and downloading the app. The app was easy to download and preferences were easy to set. However, the process of selecting starting and destination locations was a little time-consuming. The app occasionally shut down during use but was easy to restart. The main hurdle was the lag time in directions and at times long delay between instructions. Battery power consumption was high, and the Goodmaps virtual map option was found lacking in flexibility. Despite these challenges, the app was effective in guiding users through the journey.

Finally, I want to give a thumbs up to CNIB, Royal Centre Mall, and Goodmaps Explore Team for their partnership and collaboration in enhancing independent indoor travel for everyone. Keep up the great work, and I look forward to exploring your future venues.

For more information on Goodmaps Explore (indoor) and to download the app, click on the following link: https://goodmaps.com/apps/explore

In our comments section. Please share your comments and experiences using Goodmaps Explore.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post and keep Exploring the fabulous world around us.

  • David Brun
  • Gateway Navigation CCC Ltd.
  • North Vancouver, BC
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Categories
Built Environment Innovation Transportation

Accessible Digital Wayfinding

Making Complicated Transit Hubs Easier to Navigate

In our role  as a social impact company. Gateway Navigation CCC Ltd. has been promoting the technology of accessible digital augmented reality (AR) wayfinding since 2017. Which is why we are so excited with the ground-breaking work being implemented by tech start up companies, Waymap, Accessibuild and Goodmaps. Using standardized accessible digital maps of the built environment to create inclusive digital wayfinding tools.

These companies are applying their innovative and unique proprietary solutions, enabling all users to navigate with confidence and enhancing the opportunities for everyone  to explore and better understand their surroundings. These initiatives are being supported by forward thinking and socially progressive municipalities elsewhere in the world. However, across Canada, it is only a handful of public institutions and private corporations that have recognized the importance of universal accessibility and have taken the lead. While this is encouraging, these scattered islands of accessibility can only be connected if municipal and regional institutions step up.

Recently, Gateway Navigation partnered with Waymap, Accessibuild and wayfinding experts at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), to respond to an RFP call for submissions from TransLink for an accessible digital wayfinding pilot for Vancouver Metro Transit. The proposal outlined a pilot to use the Accessibuild digital mapping expertise with the Waymap app at Waterfront Station, one of Metro Vancouver’s busiest transit interchanges.

To implement these solutions in BC and across Canada, we need local and regional governments, transit authorities and others to step up as they recently did in Washington DC. The attached article and interview, with Tom Pey, CEO Waymap, describes the accessibility service now being implemented by Washington DC Metro across its entire network of stations and bus stops.

App to Help Blind People Navigate Public Transit to Debut in Washington – Inside Telecom - Inside Telecom

It remains our vision to implement a similar digital navigation system across the transit system in Metro Vancouver.

How can you help? Share our vision with your friends, family and colleagues.

For more information email us at partners@gnc3.com

Happy travels,.

The Team at Gateway Navigation.

Categories
Digital Information Innovation Internet

A11Y (Internet Accessibility)

Ground-breaking Web Graphics Technology Launches at CSUN 2022, North America’s Largest Assistive Technology Conference

Anaheim— March 16, 2022 — Today at the CSUN 2022

Imagine trying to visit a web page full of interesting and informative graphics if you couldn't see. You would get the text read out to you with a screen-reader, but descriptions of the images would be limited, at best. That's the situation faced today by millions of blind Internet users. Until now.

At the CSUN Conference, taking place this week in Anaheim, California, the IMAGE project, a collaboration between researchers at McGill University, Gateway Navigation, and the Canadian Council of the Blind (CCB), is announcing the beta version release of their free web browser extension. This extension provides users with a rich audio sonification, and optionally, a tactile representation, of several types of web graphics.

The IMAGE project arose from challenges faced by blind users trying to navigate the Vancouver Convention Centre using an online floor plan of the building. As David Brun, founder of Gateway Navigation explains: “The online plan was a photograph; so, the directional information it offered to sighted visitors was not accessible to me. This is a challenge faced by millions of people worldwide every day.”   Now, with the initial release of IMAGE, as an open-source tool designed and developed by over twenty researchers from McGill’s Shared Reality Lab and over fifty co-design participants who are blind, deafblind, or partially sighted, from across Canada, we are witnessing a first step in unlocking the barrier to accessible internet graphics for everyone.

Jeff Blum, Technical Project Manager for the IMAGE project explains, “For example, by using spatial audio, where the user experiences the sound moving around them through their headphones, information about the spatial relationships between various objects in the scene can be quickly conveyed without reading long descriptions. In addition, rather than only passive experiences of listening to audio, an optional haptic device can help the user literally feel aspects like regions of a landscape, objects found in a photo, or the trend of a line on a graph. This will permit interpretation of maps, charts, and photographs, in which the visual experience is replaced with multimodal sensory feedback, rendered in a manner that helps overcome access barriers for users who are blind, deafblind, or partially sighted.

Prof. Cooperstock, Director of the Shared Reality Lab, elaborates, “Our project is designed to be as freely available as possible, as well as extensible so that other technologists, artists, or companies can produce new experiences for specific graphical content that they know how to best render. For example, if someone has a special way of rendering stock market charts, they do not have to reinvent the wheel, but can create a module that focuses on their specific audio and haptic rendering and plug it into our overall system.”

Brun continues, “This Collaboration is possible through the funding made available through Innovation Science Economic Development Canada and the guidance of the Canadian Council of the Blind (CCB) voice of the blind in Canada, Dot Inc from South Korea and Haply Robotics from Montreal, Canada.

We look forward to collaborating, partnering, and supporting all users, researchers, developers, and organizations interested in building on IMAGE’s open-source design and commitment to creating greater accessibility on the internet for everyone.

To learn more about IMAGE and how to financially support IMAGE’s on-going work, visit: https://gnc3.com/go-image

 

###

For more information,

PR Contact Name:      Jeremy Cooperstock and Jeff Blum

Organization:               McGill University’s Shared Reality Lab

Phone number:           514.558.3953

Email:                          image@cim.mcgill.ca.

PR Contact Name:      David Brun

Organization:               Gateway Navigation

Phone number:           604.499.4818

Email:                          image@gnc3.com

 

For more information on IMAGE – Chrome Extension AI Accessibility at Work:

Website: https://image.a11y.mcgill.ca

 

 

Categories
Event Innovation

Join Us at #NFB21 With Our IMAGE Project Partners

Making internet graphics accessible through rich audio and touch

Welcome! This project is carried out by McGill University's Shared Reality Lab (SRL), in strategic partnership with Gateway Navigation CCC Ltd and the Canadian Council of the Blind (CCB) the largest member-based organization of blind consumers in Canada. The project is funded by Innovation Science Economic Development Canada through the Assistive Technology Program. The motivation for this project is to improve the access to internet graphics for people who are blind or visually impaired.

Join us at the National Federation of the Blind 2021 virtual national convention via the Crowd Compass event platform by:

Once you have logged in and agreed to the code of conduct.

Go to Exhibitors List and scroll to:

Shared Reality Lab McGill University and click on the zoom room link to connect with us on the following dates and times. Note: zoom room / virtual booth is only available during the times listed below:

Tuesday / Wednesday, July 6th, and 7th from:

  • 9:00 AM EDT to 5:00 PM EDT
  • 6:00 AM PDT to 2:00 PM PDT

Thursday, July 8th from:

  • 9:00 AM EDT to Noon EDT
  • 6:00 AM PDT to 9:00 AM PDT

Friday, July 9th from:

  • 9:00 AM EDT to 11:00 AM EDT
  • 6:00 AM PDT to 8:00 AM PDT

Saturday, July 10th from

  • 9:000 AM EDT to Noon EDT
  • 6:00 AM PDT to 9:00 AM PDT

To learn more and try the tools being developed through the IMAGE (interactive multi-modal access to graphic Exploration) Project visit https://image.a11y.mcgill.ca/.

 

Categories
Awareness Innovation News

CF Pacific Centre Mall: Inclusive Audio-Based Indoor Navigation Pilot

In 2021, A New Inclusive Shopping Experience is Coming to CF Pacific Centre in Downtown Vancouver

Smartphone users will be able to navigate the interior of Cadillac Fairview’s CF Pacific Centre using an interactive app called Accessibuild. Jeff Godfrey, the app developer, explains, “users will be able to complete journeys in real time or virtually. The app provides directions and instructions from a starting point until the user arrives at their destination. Providing an experience like outdoor GPS but indoors. Unlike other apps that use a purely graphic interface, this one is fully accessible to persons who are blind”.

Lillian Tummonds, General Manager, and her team at CF Pacific Centre have been collaborating with Y4U / Accessibuild and Gateway Navigation CCC Ltd to implement this first of its kind pilot in Canada.

David Brun, Founder of Gateway Navigation a community contribution company in partnership with the Canadian Council of the Blind, describes the recent innovations in creating highly accurate architectural models, “as the game changer in providing accurate wayfinding that delivers a unique augmented reality experience for all users.”

What has happened so far?

Early in December, Kickstart, a local BC company specializing in LiDAR scan technology, worked a night shift compiling one hundred and twenty laser light scans of Cadillac Fairview’s flagship mall in Vancouver, CF Pacific Centre. The mall stretches three city blocks, starting at Robson Street to the south and extending to Pender Street at the north, including the large food court connecting the Mall to the Heritage Hudson Bay Building.

This location has long been considered the epicentre of downtown Vancouver. The adjacent Canada Line SkyTrain Station bears the name City Centre. A fitting starting point for creating accessible and inclusive indoor wayfinding for all downtown Vancouver’s shoppers and visitors.

In September 2020 Y4U / Accessibuild and Gateway Navigation CCC Ltd. joined a conversation with Cadillac Fairview that had been initiated by David Martin, a tenant in 701 West Georgia Street, an office tower connected to the Mall. Due to David’s own personal experience of growing up with his mother, Maureen, blind from the advancement of Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), he recognized the potential impact of accessible audio-based indoor navigation for the users of such an important community space in Vancouver. He appreciates the benefits his mother and other family members with vision impairment would get from being more independent and confident in navigating their trips to local shops and venues at CF Pacific Centre.

Hence, a single letter initiated a conversation, that in turn identified a common vision, and has now transformed into a pilot project that will provide greater access and inclusion for everyone.

What are the next steps?

In February 2021, Y4U will have converted the data point cloud gathered by the LiDAR scans into a digital 3D architectural map of the main level of CF Pacific Centre. They will then download the essential elements of that map to their Accessibuild platform, following the voluntary standards set out by the Computer Technology Association (as included in the recommendations of the CTA inclusive indoor and outdoor audio-based navigation system for all persons).

Gateway Navigation CCC Ltd. personnel, who have overseen the collaboration from inception, will then engage with Cadillac Fairview, local community stakeholders, accessibility consultants and orientation mobility professionals to beta test the Accessibuild app and platform. Feedback from that engagement will result in recommendations to enhance the audio-based augmented reality experience delivered to users.

As we progress through the pilot, we look forward to providing updates leading up to the launch of the Accessibuild app in the Spring of 2021.

Many thanks to the exceptional team at Cadillac Fairview for their commitment and willingness to partner with us on this community project. Thanks also to David Martin who took the time to write the letter to introduce Gateway Navigation CCC Ltd. to the Cadillac Fairview team.

Please feel free to contact us by e-mail at: partners@gnc3.com with any questions, feedback or leads for future projects.

David Brun, Gateway Navigation CCC Ltd.

Categories
Awareness Innovation Service

Gateway Navigation: Inclusive Audio-Based Navigation Systems

Who We Are and What We Do

Gateway Navigation CCC Limited is a unique social enterprise based in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Bringing together social innovation and for-profit sustainability. Founded in 2017 by individuals and organizations that share a lived experience in disability and a passion to make a difference in their community. Our social and business objective is to create a more accessible and inclusive world through applying human centred design in the use of accessible ABN networks in interior and exterior spaces.

Gateway Navigation applies a multifaceted approach in working with venues, suppliers, and stakeholders. This includes upholding principles of universal design, expertise in available assistive technology, stakeholder co-design, testing proof of concept, inoperability of technology and facilitating ongoing feedback by the venue's accessibility team, stakeholders, and users.

Gateway Navigation creates an accessible wayfinding assessment.  Mapping the venue's architectural elements, including auditory, tactile, high contrast and environmental features. Supporting inclusive wayfinding systems and universal design concepts. Starting at public transit or drop-off pick up points to the desired arrival point of a journey.  This assessment becomes the basis for potential audio-based navigation network solutions.

The desired outcome of reliable, consistent and impactful projects is achieved by viewing them through a holistic lens, That Integrates best practices and principles to create an orientation story that guides users with reliable and consistent information as set out in both the ITU and CTA standards for inclusive audio-based indoor and outdoor navigation systems for all persons.

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