Wegoto: A Smartphone-based approach to assess and improve accessibility for wheelchair users

Abstract

This paper proposes a description of a Smartphone-based approach to assess and improve accessibility for wheelchair users. The developed system employs a dedicated Smartphone application that records various complementary sensor measurements (acceleration, deceleration, inclination, orientation, speed, GPS position) and permits obstacle denunciation. Then, accessibility information are reported on maps in a Geographic Information System which can calculate the most accessible route for wheelchair users taking into account their profiles and capabilities. A case study involving a wheelchair-dependent paraplegic was performed to preliminary assess the feasibility of our Smartphone-based approach to provide an accessibility index for wheelchair users. Although preliminary, our results do suggest that the Wegoto system could be used as an innovative assistive navigation system for wheelchair users and ultimately could help to improve their autonomy and quality of life.