Client-server Approach in the Navigation System for the Blind

Abstract

The article presents the client-server approach in the navigation system for the blind-"Voice Maps". The authors were among the main creators of the prototype and currently the commercialization phase is being finished. In the implemented prototype only exemplary, limited spatial data were used, therefore they could be stored and analyzed (for pathfinding process) in the mobile device's memory without any difficulties. The resulting increase of spatial data scale and complexity required a modification of the data storage and operation. Consequently, the decision was made to maintain a central spatial database, which is accessed remotely. After that modification, the mobile application fetches the required batch of spatial data (with the pathfinding and search results) from the central server through the mobile internet connection, which has also become necessary for other purposes (e.g. voice recognition). The authors present the advantages and disadvantages of this new approach along with the results of the server operational tests. http://www.transnav.eu the International Journal on Marine Navigation and Safety of Sea Transportation Volume 7 Number 3

Design of the Dual Constellation Gps/Galileo Mobile Device for Improving Navigation of the Visually Impaired in an Urban Area

“…The client application calculates the optimal route for the users and then guides them to the selected target along the route. Users' geographical position and their azimuth are continuously monitored, and wrong or dangerous behaviour causes appropriate voice messages to be triggered along with information on passed objects, point of interests (POI) near obstacles and potential dangers, point of danger (POA) [12][13][14]. Geospatial data is acquired by the community and aggregated on the web portal, allowing preview and editing.…”