1:45 PM - 2:00 PM
[033] Verification of the Efficiency of the Practical Application “Wheelchair users Navi” for Welfare Towns
Keywords:wheelchair users, accessibility, shortest route, disability, navigation system, route, urban design, urban policy
The Japanese population is currently declining whereas the number of old people is increasing. The Japanese government has therefore been working on a compact city policy whereby city expansion is controlled, and city functions are integrated into an urban center. We are working on the development of a “Wheelchair users Navi”. “Wheelchair users Navi” is aimed at wheelchair users. If users do not know how to get somewhere, they can get there with use of this application. “Wheelchair users Navi” provides wheelchair users with routes to get to the destination. In addition, “Wheelchair users Navi” takes into consideration road conditions. If the route has a lot of inclines, wheelchair users experience difficulty. “Wheelchair users” Navi gathers information about routes. For example, “This route is difficult to pass through.”, “This route has a lot of inclines.”. Because of this information, wheelchair users can get to their destination using routes which have few physical burdens. “Wheelchair users Navi” has some problems. First, “Wheelchair users Navi” can not search for stores using popular names. For example, in the case of a search for “Starbucks”, some users search for “Sutaba”. In those cases, “Wheelchair users Navi” can not find it. “Wheelchair users Navi” can not navigate the inside of large commercial facilities. We are going to improve the “Wheelchair users Navi”. First, we will add more information about stores which are located in large commercial facilities. We also want to support navigation for wheelchair users inside. Second, we will add some pictures of toilets and parking lots which support wheelchair users. It is easier for users to navigate using pictures. Also, we want to expand “Wheelchair users Navi” to support people who live in other cities. Now, “Wheelchair users Navi” can be used in Kumamoto downtown. In the future, “Wheelchair users Navi” could support people such as the elderly, pregnant women, families with strollers and disabled people. We are going to work on these problems to improve the “Wheelchair users Navi” to be used by more people, to be used anywhere, and to be used anytime.