So How do I Get to the Elevator?: A New Device to Help the Blind Navigate New Places

Imagine if you can for a minute that you can't see how to get from point A to point B. This is a problem that the blind face on a daily basis. I've already discussed the process of learning "how to get to a new destination in my post “The Joys of Figuring Out Transportation to New Places”, but this mostly addresses the issues of simply arriving at my destination. Once I've learned a route to a building, then I have to know how to get where I need to be in that building. This can bring up a whole new set of issues, and no offense to any of my sighted readers, but most people have no idea how to give directions to a blind person.

Thankfully though, a company in Israel called “Step Hear”, has figured out an inexpensive and universally accessible way to help the blind navigate spaces that they are unfamiliar with. The technology, also called Step Hear, uses bases that hold pre-recorded information and activators that the blind person owns. So for example, if I have an activator and I want to know how to get to the elevator, I simply push a button on my activator and a voice gives me directions on how to get there. The bases can hold upt o 1 minute of pre-recorded information and are easy to install both indoors and outdoors. with just a little investment, large buildings that are difficult to navigate could easily become accessible to the blind. I think that this is something worthy of contacting your representatives about, because Government buildings should be accessible to everyone.

So where do you think the first bases should be installed?