NATMO mulling concept of voice, touch integrated guide app for blind

India's cartographic body has come up with a concept of voice-integrated and touch-enabled navigation app to cater to the visually challenged, an official said.

The Kolkata-headquartered National Atlas and Thematic Mapping Organisation (NATMO) under Department of Science & Technology recently designed a comprehensive Braille atlas for nearly 50 lakh visually challenged people in the country.

A mobile app is being considered to take forward navigation for the visually challenged.

"There would be a voice over... they can touch and detect their location and then the voice-over will guide them to their destination. We have come up with the concept and are trying to see how it works out," Tapati Banerjee, Director, NATMO, said.

In the Braille Atlas, maps are raised and embossed with simple lines and point symbols to facilitate its users to realise the location and area coverage easily distinguishable in terms of shapes and textures.

The atlas has 20 maps on different themes like physical, socio-economic, river system, crops pattern, natural vegetation, cultural, metropolitan areas, roads and railways, and crops.