Microsoft’s 3D soundscape technology aims to make navigation easier for the visually impaired

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Published onNovember 6, 2014

published onNovember 6, 2014

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Routine tasks such as walking from your home to the store is simple enough for most people; you swiftly move down the steps to the curb, you hop over and navigate your way around the remnant puddles from last night’s downpour, taking all the right turns as you make your way to the store and excusing yourself as you pass through a crowd of people at the entrance. Now imagine accomplishing that if you were one of the millions of people around the world who are visually impaired.

That’s where Microsoft’s 3D soundscape technology comes in. The solution works using a combination of a Windows Phone, a pair of bone-conducting headphones which sit just behind the cheek bone and transmit sound directly into ones inner ear, leaving the ears open to capture environmental noises and to have conversations with, and a series of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth beacons placed among a “boosted route” in a city.

The beacons work to provide both the smartphone and the headphones information including GPS turn-by-turn instructions as well as store location information, bus arrivals and more. Even after you’ve reached the store, sensors inside will help you traverse the aisles, and product barcodes can be scanned to get all its details read out to the user.

“[the technology is] an audio-rich experience in which the headset, smartphone and indoor and outdoor beacons all work together to enhance the mobility, confidence and independence of people with vision loss.” – Jennifer Warnick, Lead Writer at Microsoft

Microsoft has worked with a number of organizations in the United Kingdom to bring this early prototype to reality including the Guide Dogs charity, Network Rail, Reading Buses, Future Cities Catapult, the Reading Borough Council and Tesco. As the technology matures and more partners join, Microsoft’s 3D soundscape technology could be implemented in major cities around the world, making navigation for the visually impaired a lot more convenient.

Radu Tyrsina

Radu Tyrsina has been a Windows fan ever since he got his first PC, a Pentium III (a monster at that time).

For most of the kids of his age, the Internet was an amazing way to play and communicate with others, but he was deeply impressed by the flow of information and how easily you can find anything on the web.

Prior to founding Windows Report, this particular curiosity about digital content enabled him to grow a number of sites that helped hundreds of millions reach faster the answer they’re looking for.

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Radu Tyrsina

With KB5043178 to Release Preview Channel, Microsoft advises Windows 11 users to plug in when the battery is low#

Copilot in Outlook will generate personalized themes for you to customize the app#

Microsoft will raise the price of its 365 Suite to include AI capabilities#

Death Stranding Director’s Cut is now Xbox X|S at a huge discount#

Outlook will let users create custom account icons so they can tell their accounts apart easier#

Microsoft’s 3D soundscape technology aims to make navigation easier for the visually impaired#