Choice

Smart Multimodal Indoor Positioning and Navigation Adapted to Mobile Phone

On 15 November 2010 the European Commission adopted a new strategy to break down the barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from participating in society on an equal basis (Disability Strategy 2010-2020). The objective outcomes for 2011.5.5.ICT for smart and personalized inclusion involve ICT tools, infrastructures and devices to enhance accessibility in daily life, e.g. personalisable software based assistive solutions supported through online/cloud-based platforms. CHOICE aims at meeting these objectives by applying a Design for All perspective, hence aiming at researching, developing and innovating CHOICE services and systems for all, not only for one particular group with special needs.

For approximately 80 million Europeans with a disability, there are major obstacles that put activities such as travelling out of reach. CHOICE technological innovations and findings within the area of assistive technologies are carefully analyzed and acknowledged from the point of view of usability and user experiences, hence taking into account existing technology and findings, specifically those adaptable to mobile phones with indoor positioning and navigation as a goal.

The CHOICE R&D&I-activities are conducted through a multimodal approach involving a number of HCI techniques. Moreover, the project adapts an integrative approach through heavy involvement of user communities, other stakeholders committed to the project and industry through applying Living Lab methodologies. User studies and tests are conducted by involving users with RTD -activities in settings such as museums, hospitals and airports. Processing of information is supported by the ubiquitous nature of the cloud infrastructure. It is expected that CHOICE will provide reference architecture so that public spaces that adapt it can provide access to all of their functionality and exhibits to people with impairments. This functionality will be provided largely without the need for new and costly infrastructure. Standard WI-FI hotspots and a scalable network of processing nodes will provide accurate positioning of all users in space. Processing-power requirements and ubiquitous access are facilitated by the use of “the cloud”. Additionally, services (information and navigation) are provided mainly through mobile phones following paradigms with which users are familiar with i.e. acquiring an application through a software store, installing it on the phone and using it whenever in the proximity of a space that supports the CHOICE systems.

In the project proposal and consortium we collaborate with fourteen partners from six different countries involving Athens Information Technology, ITACA, Swedish Institute of Computer Science, Adiyaman University, The Finnish Federation of the Visually Impaired, Polar Print, Gazi Medical University, Value Creation, ArtSpace, Citi Lab, VTT, SIVECO and FCC/Romania.