Using mobile apps for navigation

David F. Cihak, Ph.D.

The ability to navigate independently from place-to-place affects vocational and independent living outcomes for people with intellectual disabilities. People need to travel in their community in order to be fully integrated and actively participate in life. By navigating public and pedestrian travel independently, people with intellectual disabilities maximize job and community living opportunities.

At the University of Tennessee’s FUTURE Post-Secondary Education Program, we have studied the effectiveness of mobile applications to assist in the facilitation of navigation skills on campus and in the community.

There are many navigation mobile applications available for free. We specifically have used Google Maps and Heads Up Navigator: 3D Augmented Reality Navigation. We have found that the Heads Up Navigator was especially helpful. The students view both the real world and digital information (visual and auditory) superimposed on their surrounding environment when using the camera feature. The embedded visual prompts appear as hovering arrows and name landmarks when the iPhone is aimed toward a specific destination. The Heads Up Navigator interface functions similarly to a compass in that the arrows are continually oriented toward the final destination. The student simply follows the arrow. A small embedded map also appears at the bottom of the screen with a pinpoint showing the current location of the navigator.

The Heads Up Navigator: 3D Augmented Reality Navigation is a free application and for more information visit: https://itunes.apple.com/ke/app/heads-up-navigator-3d-augmented/id330367042?mt=8

Figure. Student view when traveling to the early learning center for her internship.