Satellite Navigation for the visually impaired

ESA News has a really interesting article about a prototype satellite navigation system for the visually impaired that was successfully tested in Madrid, Spain. The system uses a mobile phone with a location receiver and a voice synthesizer. The phone’s position is tracked accurately enough to give turn-by-turn directions in an urban setting, which are relayed through a voice synthesizer and into a set of headphones. However, the test subject still had a service dog, since conditions like other people on the street or passing cars would have to be dealt with. Still, it’s a pretty cool and useful application of navigation technology