For Paralympians as well EU Space is part of the path
The Olympics are big, but some may say they are a prelude to the Paralympics, which will be held from 28 August to 8 September.
This year’s Paralympic Summer Games are set to welcome over 4,000 global athletes competing in 549 medal events across 22 different sports.
For many of these athletes, the path to these games was paved by EU Space.
GNSS opens the door to new services for people with disabilities
Like all people with disabilities, many Paralympians have had to navigate their way through a rather inaccessible world that can make everyday life a challenge.
The good news is that this is starting to change.
“Space technology is redefining accessibility, opening the door to a plethora of new services and opportunities for athletes with disabilities,” says EUSPA Executive Director Rodrigo da Costa.
Take for example the ubiquitous smartphone. By democratizing access to GNSS positioning, there are now numerous applications designed to foster the inclusion of people with disabilities, impairments and mobility issues.
For instance, those with mobility issues can use such apps as iAccess Life and Wheelmap to locate wheelchair-accessible places and rate shops, restaurants and cafes based on their overall accessibility. Meanwhile, BlindSquare and Lazarillo rely on Galileo’s precise positioning to give people with vision impairments the ability to safely and autonomously navigate city streets.
EU Space key to building a more inclusive society
Several accessibility-focused applications and services have their roots in a EUSPA-supported competition or initiative.
One of those is BLIND EXPLORER. Developed by Geko Navsat, the app provides an accurate and reliable personal navigation solution to guide people with visual impairments along unknown paths. The groundbreaking system uses binaural sounds and advanced satellite navigation technologies to give the user a unique perception of their surroundings and help them get to where they want to go.
It should also be noted that many accessibility-oriented applications stand to benefit from the Galileo High Accuracy Service, which improves urban navigation and wayfinding for people with disabilities.
“EU Space continues to play a central role in building a more inclusive society which, in the spirit of the Paralympics, is something we can all root for,” adds da Costa.
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