Tagged Announcements

GoodMaps, experts and innovators in accessible navigation and wayfinding, partners with the CNIB Foundation, Canada’s largest non-profit serving people with sight loss. GoodMaps Explore, unveiled earlier this month, is an accessible wayfinding app designed primarily for people who are blind or partially sighted. Drawing upon GoodMaps’ state-of-the-art digital maps, the app uses audio instructions to communicate routing and critical spatial information as users move through indoor or outdoor environments. quote “From the moment we began conversations with CNIB, it was clear that we shared a vision for drastically increasing the footprint of accessible buildings and overcoming the historical hurdles of accessible navigation,” says Jose Gaztambide, Founder and CEO of GoodMaps. “CNIB believes, as we do, in leveraging the latest technology to offer an extraordinary navigation and wayfinding experience for clients.” In the past, indoor navigation for people with sight loss has often been imprecise and has typically relied on expensive, burdensome infrastructure. But GoodMaps Explore starts with laser mapping of the environment, then draws upon camera-based positioning (CPS), a breakthrough technology that utilizes sensors in a device’s camera to achieve superior accuracy with minimal hardware. quote “We are absolutely thrilled to be partnering with GoodMaps,” says Shane Silver, Vice President of Social Enterprises for the CNIB Foundation. “This innovation represents a significant breakthrough in accessible indoor navigation and accuracy. The introduction of GoodMaps across the country will help ensure that Canadians with sight loss have greater access to more buildings and venues than ever before.” About Goodmaps Founded in 2019 and an affiliate of the American Printing House for the Blind (APH), GoodMaps (formerly Access Explorer) is a Louisville-based social enterprise dedicated to making buildings more accessible, safe, and productive through the use of digital indoor maps. For more information, go to the GoodMaps Website or Contact Us. About CNIB The CNIB Foundation is a non-profit organization driven to change what it is to be blind today. We deliver innovative programs and powerful advocacy that empower Canadians impacted by blindness to live their dreams while tearing down barriers to inclusion. Our work as a blind foundation is powered by a network of volunteers, donors and partners in communities across Canada. For more information, please contact: Alison Byczok, Director, Marketing and Communications 416-272-0464 | alison.byczok@cnib.ca

GoodMaps is proud to announce the release of GoodMaps Explore for iOS, with an Android version coming soon. GoodMaps Explore is an accessible wayfinding app designed primarily for people who are blind or visually impaired, which sets a new standard for indoor navigation across the globe. GoodMaps Explore uses audio instructions to communicate routing and critical spatial information as users move through a space, whether indoors or outdoors, drawing upon GoodMaps’ state-of-the-art digital maps. In doing so, GoodMaps has solved four problems that have frustrated the field for several decades by: delivering superior positioning accuracy with minimal infrastructure, dramatically speeding the process to digitally map a building, which provides the foundation for the app, creating a way for building owners to securely control their mapping data, and providing the public with a complete package of maps with an app to actually use them. José Gaztambide, Founder and CEO of GoodMaps, reflects, “We are thrilled to release this app and find from its early reviews such a positive response, as we are mindful of all the work that’s come before us. From the start, we have been determined to truly listen to people who are blind or visually impaired and create technology that would offer them, and all of us, the ability to navigate space better than ever before.” “As an active blind traveler and technologist, I have been working for 25 years with like-minded colleagues toward the goal of free ubiquitous accessible navigation for all,” reflects Mike May, Chief Evangelist at GoodMaps. “Thousands of users and competitive products have contributed to the Explore app, which is a major step along the road to independence. I can’t wait for the next version and more mapped indoor spaces as GoodMaps continues to improve accessible navigation for everyone including navigating in our new physical distancing environment”. Superior Accuracy with Simple Infrastructure Whereas indoor navigation technology in the past has been inaccurate and relied on expensive, burdensome infrastructure, GoodMaps Explore draws upon camera-based positioning (CPS). CPS utilizes sensors and a device’s camera to achieve superior accuracy, with average accuracy of 1.5 meters (~5 feet) or less – all through minimal hardware to install and maintain. “For years, our field has been experimenting with wayfinding solutions that rely on Bluetooth beacons,” says Craig Meador, President of the American Printing House for the Blind (APH. “The reality is that the use of beacons was limited. Users experienced poor accuracy, interference issues, and often had to rely on other sources to navigate the final 15 feet. With GoodMaps’ breakthrough, we’re able to solve these issues and drastically improve the reliability of accessible navigation.” The key to this advancement is GoodMaps’ revolutionary indoor positioning system, which combines Augmented Reality and sensors on a device with a new system developed by Fantasmo, a GoodMaps partner. This system delivers accurate indoor location without the use of cumbersome beacons or other similar hardware. The result is a trusted and reliable wayfinding experience for people who are blind, with virtually no infrastructure to install and maintain. Significant Gains in Efficiency GoodMaps is powered by its new LiDAR-based mapping platform, GoodMaps Studio. The company creates maps by using mobile LiDAR scanners, which quickly produce digital representations of the space. “LiDAR scanners emit thousands of pulses of laser light every second,” explains Ed Scott, CTO of GoodMaps. “We are able to use those pulses to measure distance and create a digital representation of the space. This has allowed us to drastically reduce the time it takes to create a map of the space, which has been a major barrier to indoor mapping. We can map a building in an hour that required multiple days in old approaches.” “This major gain in efficiency, and a focus on multiple uses for this technology, means the field can finally take indoor navigation to scale, a goal that the market has long made elusive for people who are blind or visually impaired,” remarks Gaztambide. Anne Durham, Chief Officer of Innovation and Strategy at APH, comments “We have known for years that accessible indoor navigation would not be possible without accurate maps of indoor locations. With these gains in efficiency, we feel that the time to map the largest unmapped territory in the world – the indoors – is now at hand.” New, Secure Control GoodMaps’ technology offers building owners the ability to decide who sees what parts of their building – a key security feature lacking to date in the field, preventing others’ technology from being scaled. “We heard from building managers that data security was imperative to usability. No one wants their data falling into the wrong hands,” says Gaztambide. “That is why GoodMaps is built on layers of role-based permissions. What your guests, your engineers, and your staff see are all different, manageable, and customizable.” A Complete Package While some indoor navigation companies offer apps but no maps, and others offer maps but no apps, GoodMaps offers both – maps with apps. This provides a seamless, high-quality package that gets users where they want to go unlike any other technology. “We know that maps are a means to an end, not the end itself,” remarks Gaztambide. “Explore is an important step in bringing those maps to life. We are excited to continue developing tools that fully leverage our mapping technology.” GoodMaps Explore is currently available on the Apple App Store and will be available on Android devices later this year. Founded in 2019 and an affiliate of the American Printing House for the Blind (APH), GoodMaps (formerly Access Explorer) is a Louisville-based social enterprise dedicated to making buildings more accessible, safe, and productive through the use of digital indoor maps. For more information, go to the GoodMaps Website or Contact Us.

Access Explorer announced today that it has changed its name to GoodMaps, effective immediately. The name change is part of a re-branding initiative to better align the company’s name with its refined strategy and near-term product roadmap. “This rebranding reflects our belief that digital maps can change the world, beginning with accessible navigation for people who are blind or visually impaired,” says José Gaztambide, Founder and CEO of GoodMaps. “When I had the honor of being hired to lead the company, I quickly realized that an indoor navigation app wouldn’t get very far without focusing also on high-quality digital maps of the inside of buildings – maps that very rarely existed. With simultaneous mapping of indoor spaces, we can, and will, help buildings become not just more accessible but also more safe, and productive. This is the mission of GoodMaps.” Achieving the GoodMaps Mission Central to that mission is GoodMaps Studio, a new indoor digital mapping platform that creates and hosts digital maps. We use mobile scanners to capture LiDAR point clouds and images, which then convert into digital maps. Building owners themselves control the data in the maps, embodying a focus on data security. “We built GoodMaps Studio in response to what we heard from building owners. Specifically, there were concerns about their mapping data falling into the wrong hands. That’s why GoodMaps allows buildings to determine what information is made public and what information is kept secure and managed.” While GoodMaps’ initial focus is on mapping for accessible navigation, Gaztambide promises there is more to come. “Our team is working with partners to put critical spatial data in the hands of first responders, an effort that promises to save lives and protect those who protect us,” says Gaztambide. “We also will soon release a virtual touring module that will allow organizations to share their incredible spaces digitally, at a time where many cannot be there in person.” GoodMaps is a Louisville-based social enterprise and an affiliate of the American Printing House for the Blind (APH). For more information, go to GoodMaps Website or Contact Us.

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA)® Foundation announced the selection of five winners for its CES® 2020 Eureka Park Accessibility Contest. Access Explorer, along with the other winners Intuition Robotics, Loro, Mieron and TranslateLive, was awarded for being a startup designing CAVU (now renamed to GoodMaps Explore), an application for both iOS and Android devices, to provide navigation in indoor environments for people with disabilities and older adults with age-related disabilities, with the aim to alleviate the common accessibility gaps present in indoor navigation. “This year’s collection of entries was among the strongest we have seen since we started the competition five years ago,” said Henry Chiarelli principal, Chiarelli and Associates, CTA Foundation Trustee and one of the judges of the Eureka Park contest. “The winners this year represent a truly unique cross section of innovative and creative technology solutions focused on quality of life issues, enabling people of all ages and abilities to live independently. We look forward to celebrating their work at CES 2020. About the Eureka Park Accessibility Contest The CES Eureka Park Accessibility Contest showcases innovative technologies that are changing the way people work, live and play regardless of age or disability. Our application provides accurate indoor and outdoor information and navigation for people who are blind or visually impaired. We utilizes a couple of bluetooth beacons and camera-based positioning (CPS), which uses geo-referenced images to determine a user’s position. Users can shake their phone to hear a snapshot of their current location, including current direction, nearest room, street, or points of interest (POI). Users can also follow a route to a destination in mapped indoor spaces. Another great feature is the ability to hear automatic location notifications like street names, restaurants, parks, and shops outdoors along with office spaces, reception areas, water fountains and restrooms indoors. Visit Access Explorer at CES 2020 in Booth number #51122 in the Sand Expo, Level 1, Hall G. Access Explorer team Booth at Eureka Park CES 2020

Mike May, a pioneer in accessible navigation, joined the Access Explorer Team (an incorporated company owned by American Printing House for the Blind. May brings experience that will help the company continue to lead the way in accessible navigation. “Mike has more than 25 years of experience in accessible indoor wayfinding and literally originated this effort in the US. There is nobody with more experience or passion for accessible indoor navigation than Mike,” says Access Explorer CEO, Jose Gaztambide. “He’s an incredible leader and human being. Everybody at Access Explorer and in the indoor navigation industry will benefit from his commitment and presence.” Mike will help Access Explorer develop partnerships, identify resources to help expand its mission, and ensure Access Explorer’s work meets the highest standard of accessibility. “I’ve been learning how to navigate since I was blinded from an explosion at age 3. I have worked on accessible navigation as a profession since the mid 90s,” explains May. “The timing for indoor navigation to be adopted by the public is now – it’s the newest frontier. I believe Access Explorer is poised to make sure accessibility is part of that breakthrough. I look forward to being part of this important mission.” The Nearby Explorer app was created by the non-profit, American Printing House for the Blind (APH). For 161 years APH has developed products for people who are blind and visually impaired. As the popularity of Nearby Explorer grew, APH saw the need to take the app and concept to the next level. In March of this year, after a period of studying the business need and feasibility, and developing unique approaches to solving the obstacles to indoor navigation, APH formed the new for-profit corporation: Access Explorer, Inc. later changed to GoodMaps.