Google has decided to make its mapping service more user-friendly for wheelchair users, parents with prams, and the elderly. Now Google Maps has the opportunity to more clearly see which places in the city are wheelchair accessible.
βImagine that you are planning to go somewhere new, drive there, get there, and then get stuck on the street, unable to join the family or go to the bathroom. This would be very frustrating and I have experienced this many times since becoming a wheelchair user in 2009. The experience is all too familiar to the 130 million wheelchair users worldwide and the more than 30 million Americans who have difficulty using stairs,β Google Maps programmer Sasha Blair-Goldensohn wrote in a blog post.
Users can enable the "Accessible Places" feature so that wheelchair accessibility information is clearly displayed in Google Maps. When enabled, the wheelchair icon will indicate that access is available. It will also be possible to find out if parking is available, an adapted toilet, or a comfortable space. If it is confirmed that there is no available environment in a particular place, this information will also be displayed in the maps.
To date, Google Maps already provides wheelchair accessibility information for over 15 million locations worldwide. This figure has more than doubled since 2017 thanks to the help of the community and guides. In total, a community of 120 million people has provided Google Maps with more than 500 million wheelchair accessibility updates.
This new feature makes it easier to find and add accessibility information to Google Maps. This is convenient not only for those who are wheelchair users, but also for parents with strollers, the elderly and those who carry heavy objects. In order for wheelchair accessibility information to be displayed in the service, you must update the application to the latest version, go to Settings, select Accessibility and turn on Accessible Seats. This feature is available on both Android and iOS. The feature is being rolled out in Australia, Japan, the UK, and the US, with other countries to follow.
Source: 3dnews.ru