Indoor Navigation for Blind Travelers Using iPhone App-2

Using Siri • VoiceOver • Compass • O&M Skills: 2 of 9 Lessons

Navigate Indoors with Siri + Compass

Purpose: Use Siri’s heading cues and Compass to walk straight in a path. If you need to Navigate Indoors with Siri + Compass, this guide will help you do it effectively.

Step 1: Open Compass

Siri gives:

• A heading (North, South, East, West)
• A distance (20 feet, 50 feet)

Even indoors, this information is reliable and as you navigate, read the braille labels on doors to become familiar with locations.

Step 2: Open Compass to Align the Body

1. The user says: “Hey Siri, open Compass.”
2. VoiceOver announces the current heading using degrees.

Step 3: Match Siri’s Direction

Examples:

• If Siri says “Head west,” user turns until Compass says 260–280 degrees.
• If Siri says “Head north,” user turns until Compass says 350–10 degrees.

Step 4: Begin Walking Straight

1. The user holds the phone flat against the stomach.
2. The user walks forward.
3. If headings drift, user adjusts slightly.

Siri Orientation Commands

These help instantly:

• “Hey Siri, which way am I facing?”
• “Hey Siri, point me north.”
• “Hey Siri, what’s my heading?”

Navigate Indoors Using Seeing AI + Lazarillo + Compass

Purpose

The student will learn to orient themselves indoors and move with direction by combining environmental identification (Seeing AI), global orientation (Lazarillo), and body alignment (Compass) with O&M skills.

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Build Orientation and Navigate with Direction

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Step 1: Establish Global Orientation Using Lazarillo

Purpose: Understand where you are in relation to the outside world.

1. Say:
   “Hey Siri, open Lazarillo.”
2. Listen as Lazarillo announces-outside streets so you can relate inside to outside locations:
   • Nearby streets
   • Intersections
   • Points of interest
3. The student determines:
   • “The front of the building faces Main Street.”
   • “The parking lot is behind me.”

This creates a global reference point, even while indoors.

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Step 2: Align the Body Using Compass

Purpose: Establish consistent direction.

1. Say:
   “Hey Siri, open Compass.”
2. VoiceOver announces heading in degrees.
3. The student aligns to a known direction:
   • North ≈ 0°
   • East ≈ 90°
   • South ≈ 180°
   • West ≈ 270°
4. The student notes:
   • “Hallway runs east to west”
   • “Classroom is on the north side”

This builds directional consistency, not guessing.

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Step 3: Identify Indoor Landmarks Using Seeing AI

Purpose: Locate and confirm key points inside the building.

1. Open Seeing AI:
   “Hey Siri, open Seeing AI.”
2. Use:
   • Short Text → read signs (Bathroom, Exit, Room numbers)
   • Scene → understand layout
3. The student identifies:
   • Doors
   • Signs
   • Hallway intersections
4. Pair with physical awareness:
   • Door on right
   • Second hallway on left

This creates reliable indoor landmarks

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Step 4: Move with Direction and Landmarks

Purpose: Travel with control and accuracy.

1. The student:
   • Aligns direction using Compass
   • Confirms location using Seeing AI
   • Uses Lazarillo for global awareness
2. The student walks forward while:
   • Maintaining heading
   • Counting doorways
   • Listening for environmental cues
3. If drift occurs:
   • Stop
   • Recheck Compass
   • Reconfirm with Seeing AI

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Commands:

• “Hey Siri, which way am I facing?”
• “Hey Siri, what’s my heading?”
• “Hey Siri, open Compass”
• “Hey Siri, open Lazarillo”

Siri provides instant orientation support

Key Instructional Concept

• Lazarillo → tells you where you are in the world
• Compass → tells you which direction you are facing
• Seeing AI → tells you what is around you
• O&M skills → allow you to move safely and independently

Important Note

No app provides true indoor turn-by-turn navigation.
Independence comes from combining:

• Technology
• Direction
• Landmarks
• Repetition

Outcome

The student will be able to:

• Establish orientation indoors using external reference points
• Align direction using Compass
• Identify locations using Seeing AI
• Move between locations using consistent routes

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iPhone Lessons

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iPhone Setup: Turning On Siri and VoiceOver

Aira Glasses Navigation: How Blind Travelers Navigate Safely and Independently

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Indoor Navigation for Blind Users: Using Seeing AI with iPhone

Look Around APP: Outdoor iPhone Navigation for Blind People: 7 & 8

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