The San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has unveiled a prototype version of a smartphone application which can help visually-impaired passengers to navigate through an airport terminal. The app was developed through San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence Program, which paired SFO with the Indoo.rs, a leader in indoor navigation technology, and was developed in a relatively short span of 16 weeks.
“This groundbreaking new innovation offers visually-impaired passengers something remarkable…the ability to navigate through SFO independently without assistance. I appreciate the collaboration with Indoo.rs and the Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, made possible by Mayor Ed Lee’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence Program. This program demonstrates Mayor Lee’s commitment to innovation,” said John L. Martin, Airport Director, SFO.
The prototype app works in conjunction with approximately 500 beacons located throughout the terminal to audibly call out various points of interest, including gate boarding areas, restaurants, and even power outlets. The prototype version will undergo additional testing and refinement before being released for use by the travelling public.
