Waymap

Waymap operates as a high-technology firm focused on delivering precise navigation solutions for both indoor and outdoor environments. The company was founded by Tom Pey, a British entrepreneur who, after losing his sight, was motivated to address the mobility challenges faced by visually impaired individuals. His personal journey and sixteen years of research into the independent travel needs of blind people culminated in the creation of Waymap. The company's core offering is a mobile application that provides step-by-step audio guidance with an accuracy of up to one meter without relying on external signals like GPS, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth. This is achieved through an advanced algorithm that utilizes the motion sensors already present in a smartphone to pinpoint the user's location on a pre-mapped route.

The initial market focus was on the visually impaired community, aiming to enhance their independence and ability to navigate complex urban environments, including public transport systems. Waymap has since expanded its vision to serve a broader audience, positioning itself as an inclusive navigation tool for all. The business model involves partnering with public and private entities, such as transit authorities and commercial venues like shopping malls and airports, to map their locations. These organizations fund the mapping process, making the navigation service free for the end-user. This approach not only facilitates social inclusion for the visually impaired but also offers a valuable navigation service to the general public. Waymap's service has been implemented in various public transit systems, including a notable launch across 73 stations of the Washington D.C. Metrorail system, demonstrating its capability in large-scale, complex environments.

The application provides detailed, turn-by-turn directions, guiding users to specific locations such as bus stops, train platforms, or even particular aisles within a store. By collecting and processing thousands of steps worth of data, the platform's algorithm learns the user's unique walking pattern, including stride length, to enhance accuracy over time. This self-learning capability, combined with its infrastructure-free technology, presents a scalable and cost-effective solution for creating accessible and easily navigable smart cities. The company's revenue is generated by charging venues and transport networks for the initial mapping of their spaces and for subsequent maintenance and updates to these digital maps. Keywords: indoor navigation, accessible technology, visually impaired, smart cities, motion sensor, public transit, mapping service, audio guidance, location-based services, mobility solutions