Accessible Routing
The "Accessible Routing" project ([1]) aims at developing an accessible web service for route planning on the web. The geocoding and routing services as well as hosting are currently provided by OpenRouteService. Contact person is the user Ant. Actually, this project only works for Germany.
Project description
"Accessible Routing" is a web portal for accessible route planning. The web site allows to generate a route description for a desired pedestrian route - in plain text or in an embosser-ready braille format. Start and end locations are entered as adresses, the output contains a description where to turn in which street and what distance is left until the next turn.
Most routing services on the web are reserved for seeing people, because they use graphical interaction, such as maps, or excluding technologies, such as JavaScript and Flash. For this reason our focus is on designing a web site for all that can be used with refreshable braille displays and screen readers.
In upcoming releases the route description shall be more detailed. They will contain hints for orientation and special points of interest for the blind, such as tactile pavings.
Another idea is the conception of a user terminal in public space that allows passersby to get route descriptions to their desired destinations immediately.
Project status
Prototype
The first prototype is ready. Web: http://koenigstuhl.geog.uni-heidelberg.de/accessible_routing/?lang=en
Features:
- calculation of any desired pedestrian within Germany
- plain text input and output
- text output in embosser-ready grade 1/grade 2 braille
- black and white mode
- multiple languages (so far only English and German)
Upcoming features
- Routing conforming to the needs of the visually impaired
- Visual map interface
- ...
Requirements
General
| requirement | rationale | priority | planned for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Functionality without graphics | Everybody shall be able to use the system | 1 | prototype |
| Functionality with graphics | more comfort for the seeing | 2 | upcoming version |
| Conformity with web accessibility standards | Visually impaired people shall be able to use the system unrestrainedly | 1 | prototype |
| Functionality with keyboard only | Visually impaired people shall be able to use the system unrestrainedly | 1 | prototype |
| MapJumper compatibility | ... | 2 | upcoming version |
| License information | compulsory | 1 | prototype |
| Disclaimer | compulsory | 1 | prototype |
Compatibility
| requirement | rationale | priority | planned for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Browser compatibility | The system shall be usable regardless of the browser used (top 10 browsers) | 1 | prototype |
| Operating system compatibility | The system shall be usable regardless of the operating system used (top 3 Windows, top 3 Linux, top 3 mobile) | 1 | prototype |
| Screenreader compatibility | The system shall be usable regardless of the screenreader used (top 10 screen readers) | 1 | prototype |
| Suitability for braille displays | The system shall be usable for owners of refreshable braille displays (top 10 braille displays) | 1 | prototype |
| Suitability for embossers | The system shall be usable for owners of braille printers (top 10 embossers) | 1 | prototype |
| Suitability for inkjet printing on swell paper | The system shall be usable for people printing on swell paper (TIFF or PDF output) | 1 | upcoming version |
Routing
| requirement | rationale | priority | planned for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pedestrian routing (consider footways, crossings, etc.) | Moving afoot is inevitable for all people | 1 | prototype |
| Door-to-door routing | .... | 1 | prototype |
| Options for shortest and safest route | .... | 1 | upcoming version |
| Consider tactile pavings and traffic signals with vibration/sound | The system shall prioritize routes suitable for the visually impaired | 1 | upcoming version |
| Consider number of crossings and obstacles | The system shall prioritize routes suitable for the visually impaired | 2 | upcoming version |
| Address finder | Necessary with plain text input | 1 | prototype |
| Distance calculation | Estimating distance is helpful | 1 | prototype |
| Time calculation | Estimating time is helpful | 2 | prototype |
| Public transport routing | The possibility of using public transport is relevant for pedestrians | 3 | upcoming version |
| Integration of GPS on mobile devices | ... | 4 | upcoming version |
Output
| requirement | rationale | priority | planned for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Route instructions in normal and braille type | Instructions shall be printable by braille printer | 1 | prototype |
| Sending URL containing the current route | ... | 1 | prototype |
| Display points of orientation (bridges, traffic lights, tactile pavings, intersecting streets) | Visually impaired people need good orientation in order not to stray from the track | 1 | upcoming version |
| Display road properties (segregated footways/cycleways, grass verges, curbs, road surfaces) | Disabled people need detailed advice about road properties and passability | 1 | upcoming version |
| Display danger spots (tramway, crossings, steps etc.) | Some spots might be dangerous for visually impaired people | 1 | upcoming version |
| Display special POI for the blind | POI mapped explicitly for blind people shall be told. | 1 | upcoming version |
| Display pedestrian zones and other special road types | Area-like ways make orientation difficult | 1 | upcoming version |
| Display selected points of interest | Toilets, shops etc. close to the route are hard to find. The route might be altered | 2 | upcoming version |
User Interface
| requirement | rationale | priority | planned for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Usability | The system shall be easy to use, even for non-experts | 1 | prototype |
| Clarity | A clear struture helps navigate through the site | 1 | prototype |
| Scalability | Font size shall be customizable | 1 | upcoming version |
| Color modes | Font color and contrast shall be customizable | 1 | prototype |
| Save settings | personal settings shall be remembered for logged-in users | 2 | upcoming version |
| Upload of personal favourites in the Loadstone-GPS format | Users want to set their GPS locations as start/end positions | 3 | upcoming version |
Customizability
| requirement | rationale | priority | planned for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customizability of route descriptions | People with different kinds of impairment have different needs | 1 | upcoming version |
| Managing user profiles | User profiles make the management of user preferences easier | 3 | upcoming version |
Internationalization
| requirement | rationale | priority | planned for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multi-language support | Everybody shall be able to use the system | 1 | prototype (limited) |
| Unicode support | ... | 1 | prototype |
| Support for latin braille alphabets | ... | 1 | prototype |
| Support for other braille alphabets | ... | 1 | ? |
| Support for metric units | ... | 1 | prototype |
| Support for other units | ... | 2 | upcoming version |
| Controlling screen reader language | ... | 3 | upcoming version |
| Worldwide data | Everybody shall be able to use the system anywhere | 3 | upcoming version |