Testing Top Rated GPS Apps as an Orientation and Mobility Specialist

Finding the right tools for independent travel is a priority for every visually impaired individual and orientation and mobility specialist. Technology changes rapidly. New updates can improve a navigation tool or break its accessibility features.

We recently took to the streets of Austin, Texas to field-test the most popular navigation apps. We wanted to see how they perform in a real-world environment. We tested Google Maps, Apple Maps, Soundscape, and Clew. The goal was to see if these tools truly support independent travel or if they add confusion to the route.

This blog details our findings. It explores how to use GPS apps for navigation effectively. It also highlights why foundational mobility skills remain the most important tool in your arsenal.

The Role of GPS Apps in Orientation and Mobility

Technology serves as a powerful supplement to traditional travel skills. GPS apps for orientation and mobility provide auditory feedback that a white cane or guide dog cannot. They name street signs. They announce upcoming intersections. They list nearby businesses.

However, reliance on these apps requires caution. An app might tell you to turn left when a physical barrier blocks the path. It might announce you have arrived when you are actually standing in the middle of a parking lot.

We tested these apps to understand their limits. We wanted to know which ones act as reliable travel companions. This information helps professionals teach students how to navigate their environment safely.

Google Maps vs. Apple Maps

Most people default to Google Maps or Apple Maps. These are the two most common navigation apps on the market. We tested both on a route to the Austin Public Library.

The Experience with Google Maps

Google Maps is excellent for general data. It quickly identified our destination and provided a basic route. The app told us to head southeast. It directed us toward West Avenue.

The app struggled with the finer details necessary for a blind traveler. It instructed us to turn but did not specify which side of the street to walk on. This lack of detail can lead to safety issues.

The biggest failure occurred at the destination. The app announced "You have arrived" while we were still in the middle of the street. This is a critical safety hazard. A user relying solely on this audio cue might stop walking in a dangerous location. This moment reinforced a vital lesson. The app provides data but the traveler must verify that data with their cane and environmental cues.

The Experience with Apple Maps

We switched to Apple Maps to see if it offered better precision. The initial experience was frustrating. The app struggled to locate our starting point. It gave confusing instructions to "take a left" that contradicted our physical orientation.

However, Apple Maps recovered near the end of the route. It became very useful during the final approach. The app provided a specific countdown in feet. It announced "100 feet left to go." This level of granularity is often what makes the difference between finding a doorway and wandering past it.

Enhancing Environmental Awareness with Soundscape

Standard routing apps tell you where to turn. They often fail to tell you what you are passing along the way. This is where apps like Soundscape shine.

Soundscape is not a turn-by-turn navigation tool in the traditional sense. It functions as an environmental scanner. It uses 3D audio to place sounds in your headphones relative to where they are in the real world.

Features That Support O&M

We used Soundscape to identify what was around us near the library. The app called out "old residences" and specific building names. It identified a "covered pavilion."

This app uses an audio beacon feature. You can place a digital marker on a destination. The app plays a rhythmic sound that gets louder as you get closer. The sound comes from the direction of the target. This allows the traveler to maintain a straight line of travel by following the sound.

The limitation of Soundscape is that it does not give walking directions. It simply tells you where things are "as the crow flies." The best strategy is to pair Soundscape with a routing app like Google Maps. You use one app for directions and the other for spatial awareness.

Indoor Navigation Solutions: The Clew App

GPS signals rely on satellites. These signals often fail once you step inside a building. Navigating large indoor spaces like libraries, airports, or hospitals requires a different type of technology.

We tested the Clew app for this purpose. We attempted to use it outdoors initially. It failed. The app is not designed for long outdoor routes.

How Clew Works Indoors

We took Clew inside the Austin Public Library. The app uses the camera on your phone and inertial sensors to map the environment. It does not use GPS.

To use Clew you must record the route first. You walk from the entrance to a specific destination while the camera records the path. We created a route from the south doors to the coffee shop. The app places "anchor points" along the way.

Later you can load this saved route. The app uses visual and auditory cues to guide you back along the path. You must hold the phone vertically. You pan it back and forth so the camera can recognize the environment. This tool is incredibly helpful for repeating specific routes in complex buildings.

Why O&M Skills Must Come First

Our field test highlighted a significant reality. Technology fails.

Google Maps left us in the street. Apple Maps got confused at the start. Clew required a pre-recorded path. A traveler without strong orientation and mobility skills would be stranded in these situations.

Interpreting the Data

An orientation and mobility specialist teaches a student to analyze the information an app provides. A student must ask specific questions. Does the instruction match the traffic flow? Do the tactile warnings underfoot confirm the location?

The app claimed we were at the library. Our eyes and cane skills told us we were in a parking lot. This is the difference between data and knowledge. We use apps to gather information. We use O&M skills to make decisions.

Teaching Strategies for Navigating the Environment

Educators must introduce these tools carefully. We recommend mastering the route without technology first. The student should understand the geometry of the intersection. They should know the landmarks.

Once the student is confident they can introduce the app. This approach ensures the student uses the app to confirm their location rather than relying on it to direct their every step.

Lesson Planning for Night Travel

We mentioned a resource in the video regarding night travel. Teaching students to navigate in low light is essential. GPS apps can be helpful here as visual landmarks disappear in the dark.

We offer a night travel PDF and lesson plan for instructors. This resource helps teachers guide students through the challenges of navigating when visual cues are limited. It integrates the use of technology with standard safety techniques. Grab it here!

Top GPS Apps for Visually Impaired Users

Here is a summary of the apps we tested and their best use cases.

Google Maps

• Best For: General routing and finding business information.

• Pros: Extensive database of locations. Good for public transit info.

• Cons: often lacks precision at the final destination.

Apple Maps

• Best For: Pedestrian travel on iOS.

• Pros: Excellent integration with VoiceOver. precise distance announcements.

• Cons: Can be slow to update initial location.

Soundscape (and similar alternatives)

• Best For: Spatial awareness and exploring the environment.

• Pros: 3D audio. Audio beacons.

• Cons: No turn-by-turn navigation.

Clew

• Best For: Indoor navigation.

• Pros: Does not require GPS. Accurate for retracing steps.

• Cons: Requires recording the route beforehand.

Final Thoughts

The landscape of apps for orientation and mobility is vast. We found that no single app does everything perfectly. The most effective travelers use a toolkit approach. They might use Google Maps to plan the bus ride. They might use Soundscape to walk to the building. They might use Clew to find the front desk.

We encourage you to go out and test these tools. Go to a safe area. See how the app behaves. Understand its quirks before you rely on it in a busy environment.

Technology is a wonderful servant but a poor master. Keep your cane skills sharp. Use your hearing. Trust your training. Let the apps be the final piece of the puzzle rather than the foundation of your travel.

Frequently Asked Questions about Orientation and Mobility Technology

What are the best GPS apps for orientation and mobility?

The best apps depend on the user's specific needs. Google Maps and Apple Maps are standard for routing. Specialized apps like Soundscape (and its community-driven successors), Lazarillo, and BlindSquare offer features specifically for blind users. Clew and GoodMaps are excellent choices for indoor navigation.

Can I use GPS apps for navigation without O&M training?

You can use them but it is not recommended for independent travel in unfamiliar areas. Apps can give incorrect data. Orientation and mobility training teaches you how to interpret that data safely. It ensures you can travel even if the battery dies or the signal is lost.

Do these apps work for indoor navigation?

Standard GPS apps do not work well indoors. The signal is too weak. Apps like Clew use the phone's camera and sensors to navigate indoors. Other services like GoodMaps use LiDAR scanning to map large public buildings for accessible navigation.

How does an O&M specialist use technology in lessons?

A specialist introduces technology after the student has strong fundamental skills. The goal is to teach the student to problem-solve. They learn to compare what the app says against what they feel and hear in the environment.

Are there free apps for orientation and mobility?

Yes. Google Maps and Apple Maps are free. Clew is free. Many sound-based exploration apps are also free or low-cost. These tools provide accessible options for anyone with a smartphone.