"A Supermarket Navigation Aid for the Disabled or Elderly

1	Introduction
1.1	Background/Context
Considering the present demographic constitution, out of the [approximately] 68 million inhabitants that reside within the United Kingdom (Worldometer, 2024)-  the UK accommodates 16 million individuals that are considered as impaired/ disabled (DWP, 2022) [≈24%], alongside 11 million persons aged 65 and/ or above (ONS, 2021) [≈16%]. Given the context of both the aforementioned groups, irrespective of any resultant impediments they may encounter that pose as a detriment to their daily occurrences, each persistently strive to navigate the complexities of daily life whilst demonstrating remarkable resilience in the face of adversity. In spite of ableness or age, the wake of the harrowing COVID-19 pandemic which perniciously permeated every penetrable facet of our lives, in conjunction with its ubiquitous ramifications underscored subsequent drastic tectonic shifts in the lives of everyone. Amongst the most inflicted were undeniably those with access needs, and the elderly, both parties of which were subjected to the further intensified hardships of limited mobility; this tumultuous period unequivocally served as a testament to their unwavering fortitude and adaptability. 
As the pandemic resided and a return to a state of normalcy ensued, many were left grappling with the lingering effects precipitated by the pandemic- with the reintegration of those with impairments, and the elderly back into the realm of shopping responsibilities in conjunction with a diminution in lung efficiency, the dire necessity for a mechanised resolution purported to minimise the distance traversed in supermarkets has come to the fore. Confronted by these difficulties, exponentially prevalent technological advancements in our contemporary society have emerged as formidable mediums to comprehensively contribute to the enhancement of both accessibility and navigation. With the advent of GPS-enabled technologies possessing the ability to adeptly deliver instantaneous geographical data, alongside mobile applications that delineate meticulous navigational guidance, the technological landscape has shifted the paradigm of our approaches in journeying across the globe. Nevertheless, such technological innovations are prone to fail to accommodate the distinct necessities and challenges endured by those characterised by disability and/ or old age (Prandi, et al., 2023). To illustrate, conventional orientation systems may be negligible to take physical hindrances such as stairs or irregular terrain into account, this oversight may potentially give rise to significant hardships for those with mobility limitations. Likewise, the elderly, particularly those with cognitive and/or visual decline,  might be confronted with difficulties in interfacing with small screens and complex user interfaces [UI’s] (Wiener & Pazzaglia, 2021).
This development project is devoutly devoted to bridging the present disparities in modern navigational technologies by means of the construction of a user-friendly, and holistically accessible solution, explicitly fashioned for the requisites of the disabled and elderly. This innovative aid, conceptualised to operate on an array of technological devices, for instance a tablet, smartphone, or robot, will take into consideration the distinctive requirements and obstacles of these demographics, thereby substantially bettering their independence and convenience of navigation in their day-to-day routines. This application allows users to upload/ input their shopping list which is cleansed and prepared for processing employing the analysis software- thereafter the algorithm will proceed to map out the store’s department configuration [such as Fresh Food, Bakery, Frozen Food, Drinks, Baby & Toddler, Health & Beauty, Pets etc.] to a network diagram wielding Dijkstra’s Shortest Path Algorithm (Dijkstra, 1959) to ascertain the most optimal route for item retrieval. The functionality offered, not only diminishes the shopping duration and distance, but also plays a pivotal role in the preservation of the user’s physical well-being.  
Through harnessing the prowess of technological advancements, we are poised to cultivate an environment that embraces inclusivity and accessibility for all. This endeavour embodies a progression towards such an objective- a venture of which I am beyond profoundly enthusiastic to furnish any contributions to.

2.0	Literature Review
This review will consider factor influencing the development of the software.
	2.1	Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) Methodologies:
	Within the realm of software development, the implementation of project management methodologies is imperative, acting as the cornerstone for the efficacious execution of any given software initiative. They (establish) a regimented 
	
		2.1.1	Scrum Methods:

		2.1.2	Waterfall Methods: 
		Waterfall was fist mentioned by Whinston Royce in 1969 in his paper on managing large scale projects (Royce, 1969).  The method is named after a waterfall where water flows down in steps, which is the process here.
	
		2.1.3	Agile Methods:
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