Blind Man Develops Navigation App to Guide Users at Platforms, Bus Stops, and Stadiums

At 71, entrepreneur Tom Pey has introduced an innovative navigation app called Waymap, which assists users with precise directions through complex public spaces such as train platforms, bus stops, and stadiums.

Designed to provide step-by-step guidance accurate to within a meter, Waymap even works when there’s no mobile signal. It remains effective underground, indoors, and in locations where standard navigation apps often struggle. Its precision allows users to find specific spots like a supermarket cheese counter or even their seat in a stadium.

 

The Journey to Creating Waymap

Pey’s motivation to develop the app stems from a personal experience. He lost his sight in adulthood due to a delayed immune reaction to an injury he sustained at nine. A grant from Google’s charitable division helped him establish Waymap in 2017, and the company later secured £7 million in additional funding.

“Losing sight shrinks your world to essentials like visiting the pharmacy or doctor’s office,” Pey shared. “A third of people who lose their sight never venture out alone again. Waymap has given me back the freedom to explore like anyone else.”

Pey noticed that existing tools like Google Maps and Apple Maps aren’t suitable for the blind or visually impaired. “For those with visual impairments, and even others, Google Maps works only outdoors and only in certain conditions. Indoors, it’s ineffective for everyone,” he explained.

Instead of relying on Wi-Fi, Waymap downloads a detailed venue map and detects movement patterns of users around the area. Using the smartphone’s GPS sensor for precise location data, it offers consistent results without requiring a strong signal, enabling more freedom for all users in navigating both familiar and unfamiliar spaces.

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