aidsGPS

aidsGPS is a modular navigation system designed to assist people with mobility and sensory impairments by integrating Global Positioning System data with accessible routing. Implementations may be standalone devices, smartphone apps, or wearable modules that work indoors and outdoors by combining GPS with other localization technologies.

Key components include a GNSS receiver, inertial measurement units, map data, route-planning software, and an accessible user interface. The system supports multimodal feedback, such as spoken turn-by-turn guidance, audible cues, and haptic alerts. It can use open map data from sources like OpenStreetMap, as well as local authority datasets, and can operate offline with cached maps. Users can specify preferences for shortest, safest, or most accessible routes, and the system can warn of sidewalk disruptions, stairs, or steep grades.

Applications span navigation assistance for visually impaired users, wheelchair users, and older adults, in urban campuses, public transport hubs, and outdoor pedestrian networks. Limitations include variable GNSS accuracy in urban canyons and indoors, reliance on supplementary localization methods in such environments, and potential privacy concerns related to location sharing. Designers may combine GPS with beacons, Wi‑Fi fingerprinting, or SLAM in constrained areas to improve reliability.

Development and ecosystem considerations include open-source versus commercial deployments, data governance, safety certifications, and adherence to accessibility guidelines. Adoption often involves user testing with diverse mobility profiles and transparent privacy controls. As a concept, aidsGPS aims to reduce navigation barriers while respecting user autonomy and data safety.