MapinHood is the new Navigation app for People, not Cars.
Tags: Mobility, Travel, Navigation, Crowdsourcing, Apps

Why MapinHood?

GPS Navigation was never really built for pedestrians. It was originally a military technology that then trickled down into the civilian population through the use of GPS navigation for vehicular travel. Since then, routing engines that run the navigation apps we are so used to today have all been built and optimized for cars, not people. It’s all about routing for speed over longer distances and doesn’t consider the plethora of variables that can affect pedestrian travel. For example, for a person using a wheelchair, a staircase in front of the entrance to your destination can be quite annoying.

Image from Shutterstock

Pedestrian navigation has always been an add-on feature and attempts at improving pedestrian safety and accessibility have only shown limited results. For instance, ‘In 500 m, turn right’ is simply not enough information for sight impaired pedestrians. A data gap exists when it comes to sidewalks and walkable spaces which include a collection of real-world items that have no digital footprint on a map. The ability to view and filter these items will allow for pedestrians to interact with their environment on a much deeper level: increasing efficiency, utility and convenience, but most importantly, pedestrian safety and accessibility.

Graphic by MapinHood

MapinHood runs on a customized AI routing engine that has been built for the complex nature and flexibility of pedestrian travel, resulting in the most personalized and inclusive mobile navigation experience. You can always know what’s happening on the sidewalks of your city with MapinHood as it gives you instant data on crime, lighting conditions, accidents, construction hazards, city amenities, food carts, street murals, and more.

The Power of the Crowd

The MapinHood app makes it as easy as possible for the general public and mapping communities to drop tags that represent real world items like water fountains, basketball courts and stairs. There are 4 simple categories of tags and they are: Amenities, Points of Interests, Hazards and Path Features. Users can also adjust the influence of the aforementioned tags on surrounding paths and sidewalks such that a basketball court would have a radius of 25 meters whereas a bench would have an imprint of 3 meters.

Whether its temporary things like icy patches or permanent fixtures like a post box, you can find it, tag it or get to it on MapinHood. The data contributions via users will not only benefit yourself the next time you’re on a long walk and are desperately looking for a public washroom but can also have massive positive impact for people with mobility needs. By logging accessibility relevant data like ramps, powered entrances or narrow sidewalks that are littered with potential hazards; the contributions could seriously improve the pedestrian experience for people who use wheelchairs and people living with vision loss or blindness.

Screenshot of Tagging Menu — Graphic by MapinHood

Personalized Pedestrian Navigation

The settings menu on the MapinHood app allows for tailored and customized navigation that best suits you as the user. The latest version can avoid stairs, avoid steep slopes, avoid dark streets, avoid high crime areas and avoid all known or tagged obstacles (most useful for users with sight impairment). You have full control over your routing preferences and can decide what tags are important to you hence displayed on your map. Lastly, you can conveniently share your live location with family and friends.

Screenshot of Settings Menu — Graphic by MapinHood

See What’s Around You

A convenient and subtle function of the app lies within it’s search bar. When tapped, the search bar features a blue pin that you can click to reveal a list of nearby tags and how far they are from you. In essence, you can get directions straight to whatever you need in your city, whenever you need it.

Screenshot of Nearby Tags Menu — Graphic by MapinHood

Earn Points and Achievements by Contributing

MapinHood lets you add some character to the whole pedestrian navigation experience. Pick your own avatar and complete nearby quests by verifying tags and their descriptions. Quests are shown as question mark tags on the map and be clicked to reveal the tag type and the user that created it.

Compete against others for contribution bragging rights! The profile section features a ‘Leader Board’ that shows you where you stand compared to your friends as well as the world in terms of contributions.

Screenshot of Profile Page — Graphic by MapinHood

‘Geo’ Notes for You and your Friends

If you tap and hold on any location on the map, a text box appears where you can save ‘geo’ notes (text and audio) to serve as reminders to yourself or messages for friends. So the next time you forget something at the grocery on your way home, try leaving yourself a reminder that prompts you right when you are actually walking by the store. Similarly, the note feature also allows you to send your friends a list of recommended places or you could just send them on a wild goose chase or treasure hunt all together!

Screenshot of Notes Page — Graphic by MapinHood

Always Get There on Your Own Terms

Always get there on your own terms with real-time updates from the MapinHood community. Take advantage of faster routes that utilize shortcuts through walkable spaces and pedestrian areas. If you’re in an unfamiliar area, take the safest path home at night that avoids dark streets, risky crossings and ‘trouble’ based on lighting, crime and accident data.

Get barrier free routes that use accessibility related data and gradient data to lead you straight to an accessible entrance at your destination while avoiding any potential obstacles along the way. If it’s a beautiful day and you’re in the mood to explore new places, take the scenic route to discover green spaces, historic sites, city murals, local hotspots and more.

MapinHood Beta goes Live on Valentines’ Day!

The MapinHood team is opening up it’s beta on both IOS and Android on February 14. The app will be available to Canadians and will be limited to Toronto to start with. Other locations will go online in the coming months.

Sign up to stay updated and be the first to download the app in your city!

MapinHood Logo — Graphic by MapinHood

Join the MapinHood Community!

Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/mapinhood

Twitter — https://twitter.com/mapinhood

Instagram -https://www.instagram.com/mapinhood/

LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mapinhood/

Feel free to drop us a line on our contact form on www.mapinhood.com or email us directly at info@mapinhood.com for any questions or feedback.

You have full control over your privacy settings. Learn more about the MapinHood privacy policy, including what information is accessed and how it is used: https://mapinhood.com/privacy

For our terms and conditions, please see: https://mapinhood.com/terms