Project Details


WSIS Prizes Contest 2019 Nominee

Wayfindr


Description

Wayfindr is a non-profit organisation, we are creating a benchmark in standards for digital wayfinding on mobile devices. We want to empower vision impaired people to overcome isolation, through audio based navigation. We have created the world’s first internationally-approved standard for accessible audio navigation.

There are an estimated 285 million people worldwide living with sight loss.
This can often lead to isolation, poverty and depression. Of the estimated 2 million vision impaired people in the UK, almost half say they would like to leave their home more often. At the moment many vision impaired people are unable to travel independently, instead relying on other people to help them get around or just not venturing out at all.

What if vision impaired people were empowered to navigate independently using the smartphone they already have in their pockets?

This was the challenge investigated by the Royal London Society for Blind People’s (RLSB) Youth Forum and ustwo in 2014. We soon discovered that yes, this was possible. There and then we knew this was going to be life changing. Wayfindr was formed.

Project website

https://www.wayfindr.net


Images

Action lines related to this project
  • AL C2. Information and communication infrastructure
  • AL C7. E-learning 2019
  • AL C7. E-health
Sustainable development goals related to this project
  • Goal 3: Good health and well-being
  • Goal 4: Quality education
  • Goal 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions

Global digital compact (GDC) objectives related to this project None

Coverage
  • Australia
  • United Kingdom

Status

Ongoing

Start date

2015

End date

Not set


Target beneficiary group(s)
  • People with disabilities

Replicability

Wayfindr has significant expertise in audio navigation, having run successful trials in London (in partnership with TfL), Australia, Norway, Spain, and Italy.


WSIS values promotion

Our mission is to empower vision impaired people to travel independently, through inclusive and accessible audio navigation. Formed in 2015 and based in London, we have developed the world's first internationally-approved standard for accessible audio navigation.


Entity name

Wayfindr

Entity country—type

United Kingdom Civil Society

Entity website

https://www.wayfindr.net