Technology to empower the specially abled to chase their dreams

                            You are not disabled by the disabilities you have, you are able by the abilities you have

Inspiration behind this

In our daily life we often see some champions who refuse to give-up. It was so impactful and unforgettable when I saw that fragile and old person selling some stuff on a road side  when half of his body completely paralyzed. Daily I saw him with a wide smile on his face and lively spark in his eyes. He is struggling for his life and I never heard any regret or complaint in his voice. These are the people who refuse to give-up.

Technology to support a noble cause

As we are dealing in geospatial technology which is touching every one's life, It's a great idea to explore the contribution of this technology in order to help these fighting spirits. With advancement in geospatial approach and its ability to combine with other technologies it is becoming possible to provide solutions for differently able people.
 

• Personalized accessibility map

People with disabilities always need accessibility information. Some universities are providing maps with such information. Accessibility in the urban environment is strongly linked to independent mobility and is essential for the quality of life of people with disabilities. In a campus building or in a commercial tower some aspects like building entrance and public transport present challenge for wheelchair users and visually impaired travellers. Real-time navigation aids based on GIS are used in such cases.  Some map-matching algorithms are used which are based on single positioning sensor (GPS) and on integrated sensors (GPS, imagery, accelerometer, compass). These map-matching algorithms require data to accurately and continually estimate user’s location in real time.

• GIS based application

Some web based GIS application are developed which are specially designed for people with limitations in daily activities or social involvements due to impaired vision, hearing, movement, difficultly to communicate with mental damage, emotional, intellectual and behavioural learning impairments or other aspects. With this kind of application administrators can manage the functions as edit, managing the basis information of disabled people, managing the categories of disabled people, determining the latitude longitude of their house and workplace location, managing staff information etc. Users (disabled people) can interact through the web browser and the application they can sign in by using their own account and review their own basic information, record basic information such as name, age, disability, gender, disability, addresses and photos at work, etc.

 

• Mapping of functional disability

GIS have been used mainly in understanding infectious diseases and environmental threats in health research. GIS is also used to examine patterns of functional disability as one impact of chronic disease. Geographical sampling and analyses is used for this purpose. Based on the accurate ground survey that provide ground truth, thematic maps are generated that give visualize results showing type of disability, its causes, geographic locations, population, gender, age group, etc.

• How they are benefited?

Geospatial technology is helping in various ways some are as follows:

1. Health monitoring
2. Rehabilitation
3. Indoor navigation aid
4. Real time tracking of disabled people
5. Assisted living
6. Home Medical Assistance
7. Privacy, safety or standardization

Summary

With advancement in geospatial approach and its ability to combine with other technologies it is becoming possible to provide solutions for differently able people. Real-time navigation aids based on GIS are used in such cases.  Some map-matching algorithms are used which are based on single positioning sensor (GPS). GIS application are developed which are specially designed for people with limitations in daily activities or social involvements. GIS is also used to examine patterns of functional disability as one impact of chronic disease. Geospatial technology is helping in various ways like health monitoring, rehabilitation, indoor navigation, etc.