The MAPPED Research Project

The MAPPED project aims to provide users with a multi-modal route planner, allowing them to download up-to-the minute advice on accessibility and disability-specific route information to their mobile phone or PDA.

The MAPPED Research is part of ASK-IT (Ambient Intelligent System of Agents for Knowledge-Based and Integrated Services for Mobility Impaired Users) under the ‘E-Inclusion’ umbrella, which aims to use advanced technology to support the disabled and enable them to be more integrated into their local environments.

Data is collected and filed by the system for use by the disabled user, covering content including transport, tourism and leisure, work, business and education. The system can adapt itself according to the user’s preferences, habits and the context in which it is being used, said Simon Edwards, senior research associate at the University of Newcastle in an article on the GraduateEngineer.

The system uses intelligent agents which are autonomous pieces of software that can learn from the user and present them with information they didn’t even know they needed. The technology will allow access to portals such as e-Commerce and e-Government as well as such up-to-the-minute information as bus timetables, pavement conditions and the gradients of slopes.

The user’s location will be determined using GPS and relayed to the handheld PDA which will then use radio tags attached to items such as shop doorways in the surrounding area to download relevant information.

Source: GraduateEngineer.com (UK)