New technology could open a new era of independence for blind and visually impaired residents of communities everywhere.
A post on Urbanful by Njaimeh lists nine technology advancements that are providing new ways for the visually impaired to navigate the city. The nine innovations fall into three categories: wearable tech, apps, and hybrids, but each of them offer new levels of independence for the visually impaired. A few examples:
- Smart glasses: For people with some vision remaining, this technology uses "connected cameras, a compass, GPS unit, gyroscope, headphones, and displays, the glasses can display varying lightness and darkness to indicate depth, and can also be made to recognize signs and transit numbers." Such technology is being developed in Oxford and Mexico.
- Blind Square: the most popular app for the blind and visually impaired, Blind Square "works with third-party navigation apps to describe the environment, announce points of interest, and let users know when they’ve reached an intersection."
FULL STORY: 9 advances helping visually-impaired people navigate cities
House Bill 'Guts' ADA Enforcement for Public Places
Designed to thwart predatory lawsuits, the bill could make it easier for businesses to ignore barriers to access, disability rights advocates say.
Op-Ed: L Train Closure Offers 'Once-in-a-Generation' Opportunity to Improve ADA Compliance
The New York subway might lead the nation in terms of reach and ridership, but it still lags behind other rail systems in the country on one critical point: access to people with special needs.
House Bill Would Add Red Tape to Americans With Disabilities Act Protections
An underreported bill in the current congressional session would create a waiting period for Americans with Disabilities Act claims.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees
More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?
In Both Crashes and Crime, Public Transportation is Far Safer than Driving
Contrary to popular assumptions, public transportation has far lower crash and crime rates than automobile travel. For safer communities, improve and encourage transit travel.
Report: Zoning Reforms Should Complement Nashville’s Ambitious Transit Plan
Without reform, restrictive zoning codes will limit the impact of the city’s planned transit expansion and could exclude some of the residents who depend on transit the most.
Judge Orders Release of Frozen IRA, IIJA Funding
The decision is a victory for environmental groups who charged that freezing funds for critical infrastructure and disaster response programs caused “real and irreparable harm” to communities.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Clanton & Associates, Inc.
Jessamine County Fiscal Court
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service