NOW THAT’S A GOOD IDEA…
OUT THE BOX
Leading the bl
Asda trials UK-first indoor map service for the blind and visuall
WHAT’S THE STORY? Asda is trialling new technology that will make it easier for blind and partially sighted customers to navigate their way around stores.The supermarket’s flagship technology store in Stevenage will be the first supermarket in the UK to be integrated into the GoodMaps smartphone app, which is specifically built for use among the blind and partially sighted, but the usability of the app doesn’t stop there.
DON’T YOU MEAN GOOGLE MAPS? No, GoodMaps is a US based company which aims to improve the accessibility, safety, and inclusivity of indoor spaces. This is achieved by “creating and maintaining accurate digital maps, providing revolutionary indoor positioning technology, and delivering a simple and intuitive wayfinding experience to all users”.
HOW DOES WORK? The app can pinpoint the user’s location to within a metre and then communicate directions to an object or area via audio, enlarged visual, and touch commands. Shoppers using the app will be able to search for key landmarks in the store, such as the pharmacy, toilets, and tills. The app can also be used to search for specific goods on the shelves and aims to guide the customer as close as possible to the item they are looking for.
WHAT IS ASDA SAYING?
40 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 85 WEDNESDAY 8TH DECEMBER 2021
