Navigation, alarming and positioning - PTS-ER-2006:16

04/04/2006

For many people with functional impairments, the opportunity for free and independent mobility outdoors is severely limited. There may be several reasons for this, but for many it results from an uncertainty about where they are and how they should get to a certain place in the best and most secure way. The terms positioning, orientation, navigation, alarming and localisation are defined and analysed in the investigation.

After a short history, an introduction and description of active and passive systems is provided. The investigation essentially deals with active systems in outdoor environments.

In the section on technology, a review is conducted of the technical platforms that are available, namely satellite navigation for position determination and navigation, compasses for orientation and mobile telephony for those types of communication that are expected. Technologies for dedicated searching are touched on only briefly. The pros and cons of the Bluetooth, RFID and WLAN technologies are briefly dealt with as regards the proximate environment and indoor navigation.

A sector analysis is required in order to form a correct information-base for decisions. This is included within the description of Completed, ongoing and planned investigations and projects – a section which reveals that several public bodies and private businesses are rather active with preparations for trial operations within the area.

A relatively extensive section describes the result of interviews with the disability movement. These sections vary in length. To some extent, this is related to the complexity and multi-faceted nature of disabilities. It is concluded that there are certain common features, but that there are also special requirements that must be satisfied if the selection of products and services is to be regarded as adequate for the respective target group. In some cases, adaptations must be made on an individual level. – In a corresponding way, contacts with public bodies, the research world, private enterprises and telecom operators are reported on.

Following this, a review is conducted of the existing systems available on the market. There are very few such systems considering the interest of people with disabilities even if it is conceded that the maps are intended for people using motor vehicles, and there are none at all if it is required that maps should be suitable for pedestrians.

In the following section, the products on the market that could possibly be used in a trial operation are pointed out. – One section raises the ethical and security issues and the immediately following section deals with finance, including who should be responsible for the operation and maintenance of services from a possible service and alarm centre.

A short section deals with operations in other countries and this is followed by a report on future possibilities.

Finally, a summary is provided and the conclusions reported, which culminates in a recommendation that PTS should, in the first instance, initiate a dialogue with those stakeholders who are at various stages of planning practical trials for 2006, and, in the second instance, launch its own trials.