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82 Innovative Navigation Tools

From Subtle Biker GPS Systems to Blind-Assisting Subway Beacons

— November 14, 2014 — Tech
Regardless of your stance on a possible robot uprising in the future, these navigation tools demonstrate how technology knowing our exact location is a positive. For those with a poor sense of direction, Google Maps and similar innovations have proven themselves life-saving time and time again. Tech like beacons and GPS tracking now know not just where you are, but can often predict where you will be going as well.

Beacon technology might be primarily used in retail, but increasingly it is finding applications in navigation, in airports and train stations for example. There is no shortage of GPS utilization, including smart suitcases, drunk friend-tracking apps and child-locating footwear. Augmented reality is also being used for navigational purposes, as seen with augmented reality maps.
5.8
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
81
Friend-Locating Apps
Friend-Locating Apps
The Marco Polo App Helps You Find Your Friends While You're Out on the Town
<
80
Route-Optimizing Predictive Tech
Route-Optimizing Predictive Tech
Ford Uses the Google Prediction API to Customize One's Route
<
79
Minimal Android Maps
Minimal Android Maps
Never Get Lost Again with the Updated Map App for Android
<
78
Euro-Navigating Bike Apps
Euro-Navigating Bike Apps
The Google Maps App Now Has Bike Directions for European Countries
<
77
Spy-Worthy Stuff Locators
Spy-Worthy Stuff Locators
The World's Thinnest Item-Tracking Device Finds Your Lost Belongings
<
76
Comprehensive Navigation Apps
Comprehensive Navigation Apps
The Nokia Here App and In-Dash System Includes 3D City Maps
<
75
Travelling Compass Apps
Travelling Compass Apps
The Trip Compass App Will Help You Move Around Without Getting Lost
<
74
Personalized Map Apps
Personalized Map Apps
Pin Drop's App Lets You Create Custom, Meaningful Maps with Friends
<
73
Intuitive Urban Routing Apps
Intuitive Urban Routing Apps
Google Maps for iPhone Returns to the Delight of Diligent Users
<
72
Geotagging Online Games
Geotagging Online Games
Smarty Pins By Google Maps is an Addictively Simple Geography-Testing Game
<
71
Subtle Biker GPS Systems
Subtle Biker GPS Systems
The Schwinn CycleNav Issues Audio Directions and Tracks Ride Data
<
70
Context Awareness Apps
Context Awareness Apps
The Location Tracking PlaceUs Uses Automation to Maintain Close Connections
<
69
Wearable Winter Sports Trackers
Wearable Winter Sports Trackers
The Yeti Wrist Monitor Tracks Your Skiing and Snowboarding Stats
<
68
Search Engine Social Apps
Search Engine Social Apps
The New Google+ iPhone App is a Beautiful Thing
<
67
Alternative Mapping Apps
Alternative Mapping Apps
Nokia HERE Maps App Offers Apple and Android Users Another Route
<
66
Handheld Navigation Devices
Handheld Navigation Devices
The Yubi Navi Baton Vibrates To Direct You To Your Destination
<
65
Driver Tracking Devices
Driver Tracking Devices
Cloud Your Car Simplifies Car Fleet Management By Connecting All Vehicles
<
64
Verbal Navigation Bike Gadgets
Verbal Navigation Bike Gadgets
The CycleNav Launched at CES 2014 & Will Revolutionize Your Biking
<
63
Augmented Reality Maps
Augmented Reality Maps
The AR-MAPS App Works Can Detect Current Locations with a Simple Point
<
62
Tactile Navigation Cell Accessories
Tactile Navigation Cell Accessories
Blind Maps Creates a Braille-Like Surface to Guide its User
<
61
Indian Indoor Navigation Apps
Indian Indoor Navigation Apps
Google India Recently Rolled Out Maps for Indoor Navigation
<
60
Candy-Locating Apps
Candy-Locating Apps
Nextdoor's Halloween Treat Map Helps You Find the Best Trick or Treating Spots
<
59
Subway Accessibility Apps
Subway Accessibility Apps
The Wheely App Indicates Where Wheelchair Ramps and Elevators in NYC are
<
58
Integrated Auto Apps
Integrated Auto Apps
ZENRIN Datacom Collaborates With the QNX CAR Platform
<
57
Customizable Map Apps
Customizable Map Apps
The Viago Mapping App is Incredibly Advanced and Intuitive
<
56
Intricate Map Pendants
Intricate Map Pendants
Urban Gridded Dogtag Jewelry by Aminimal Studio Features Over 120 Cities
<
55
Navigational Footwear
Navigational Footwear
Dominic Wilcox 'No Place Like Home GPS Shoe' Makes Getting Lost an Adventure
<
54
Explanatory Sketch Apps
Explanatory Sketch Apps
This Can't-Miss App Helps You Explain Things By Painting a Picture
<
53
Car Space-Finding Apps
Car Space-Finding Apps
This Parking App Uses Existing Smartphone Sensors to Find You a Vacant Spot
<
52
Roadtrip-Ameliorating Apps
Roadtrip-Ameliorating Apps
The Alongways Mapping App Helps You Find the Best Places In Between
<
51
Precise Efficient Transit Apps
Precise Efficient Transit Apps
Ototo Unveils the Precise Transit App to Get You There on Time
<
50
Eco Transit Apps
Eco Transit Apps
This Comprehensive Trip Planning App Offers 10 Different Transportation Options
<
49
Groovy Music Festival Apps
Groovy Music Festival Apps
The Lollapalooza Mobile App Keeps You Connected to All the Festivities
<
48
Data Driven Cyclist Apps
Data Driven Cyclist Apps
WeCycle Aims to Make Safer Cycling Happen in London By Tracking Journeys
<
47
Beacon Navigation Technology
Beacon Navigation Technology
Sightcompass is a Beacon Tool for the Visually Impaired
<
46
Augmented Reality Navigation Apps
Augmented Reality Navigation Apps
The HUDWAY App Makes Driving in Bad Weather Safer
<
45
GPS-Guided Flying Drones
GPS-Guided Flying Drones
The 'Skycall' Drone Will Be Your Personal Tour Guide for MIT
<
44
City Hotspot Maps
City Hotspot Maps
Taxi Stockholm's Map Points Out the Hottest Spots in the City
<
43
Carbon Fiber Electric Bikes
Carbon Fiber Electric Bikes
The Haibike Xduro FullCarbon Bike Has a High-Tech Carbon Fiber Design
<
42
Vehicle-Navigating Tablets
Vehicle-Navigating Tablets
The Innovative Audi Android Tablet Debuted at CES 2014
<
41
Wave-Tracking Watches
Wave-Tracking Watches
The Search GPS Watch Helps Surfers Stay on Track
<
40
Augmented Reality Pilot Displays
Augmented Reality Pilot Displays
'Aero Glass' Helps Pilots Keep Their Eyes on the Skies
<
39
Magnified Search Engines
Magnified Search Engines
QWER.RE is a Service for the Visually Impaired
<
38
Predictive Ordering Apps
Predictive Ordering Apps
The Square Order App Improves User Experience
<
37
Restaurant Deal-Digging Apps
Restaurant Deal-Digging Apps
The SimpleDeal App Uses GPS to Inform Users About Restaurant Deals
<
36
Blind-Assisting Subway Beacons
Blind-Assisting Subway Beacons
The wayfindr System Guides the Blind Through London's Subway System
<
35
Drone Footage Maps
Drone Footage Maps
TravelByDrone Uses Crowdsourced Drone-Captured Videos for Virtual Tourism
<
34
GPS Footwear Lines
GPS Footwear Lines
The Feel Your Way SuperShoe Directs Users Via Smartphone Technology
<
33
High-Tech GPS Lifejackets
High-Tech GPS Lifejackets
These Lifejackets Could Help Prevent Fatalities in a Sea Disaster
<
32
Tiny Parking Space Apps
Tiny Parking Space Apps
The Smart Spots App Locates Compact Spots Perfect for Smart Car Parking
<
31
Nifty Nautical Naviators
Nifty Nautical Naviators
The Sailing GPS Uses Bluetooth Wind Monitoring to Plot Courses
<
30
Indoor Navigation Apps
Indoor Navigation Apps
The Inside App Makes Directories a Thing of the Past
<
29
Powerful Child Trackers
Powerful Child Trackers
The Yepzon Child Tracker Can Track Lost Children From Any Distance
<
28
Notification-Providing Wigs
Notification-Providing Wigs
Sony's SmartWig is a Smartphone Lodged in Your Hair
<
27
Astronomical Map Apps
Astronomical Map Apps
The Spyglass App Lets Users Navigate by the Stars
<
26
Food Mapping Apps
Food Mapping Apps
The Foodmento Food Finder App Catalogs a City's Best Dishes with Photos
<
25
Party-Locating Social Apps
Party-Locating Social Apps
This Travel App Helps You Find Residents Partying in Amsterdam
<
24
GPS-Enhanced Ski Gloves
GPS-Enhanced Ski Gloves
These Ski Gloves Measures Your Velocity and Displays Your Location
<
23
Drunk Friend-Tracking Apps
Drunk Friend-Tracking Apps
Buddy Check Makes Sure You Don't Lose Anyone During a Wild Night Out
<
22
Pet GPS Trackers
Pet GPS Trackers
'G-Paws' Introduces Pet GPS to Track All the Movements of Your Pet
<
21
Search Engine-Mapped Goals
Search Engine-Mapped Goals
Google Zietgeist Resolutions Unites the World and Encourages Progress
<
20
Wearable Smart Necklaces
Wearable Smart Necklaces
The Epic Mini is a Necklace That Replaces Your Smartphone
<
19
Crowdsourced Custom Trucks
Crowdsourced Custom Trucks
The Nissan Project Titan Truck is a Rugged, Military-Style Vehicle
<
18
Beacon Airport Navigation
Beacon Airport Navigation
The indoo.rs Indoor Navigation at SFO Helps Blind Travelers Get Around
<
17
Sporty Navigational Timepieces
Sporty Navigational Timepieces
The TomTom Multi-Sport GPS Watch Tracks, Times and Directs Athletes
<
16
Children-Tracking GPS Services
Children-Tracking GPS Services
Trax Lets Parents Track Pets and Children Wherever They Go
<
15
Projection Car Displays
Projection Car Displays
The Garmin Heads-Up Display Projects GPS to Your Windshield
<
14
Smartphone-Controlled Scooters
Smartphone-Controlled Scooters
This Smart Scooter Takes Commands of Your iPhone
<
13
3D Printed Online Maps
3D Printed Online Maps
GSI is Developing Software for Blind People to Print Out Tactile Maps
<
12
Penguin-Guided Navigation Apps
Penguin-Guided Navigation Apps
The 'Follow the Penguin' App Guides People to the Sunshine Aquarium
<
11
Path-Finding Timepieces
Path-Finding Timepieces
The Navigo is a Tactile Bracelet That Vibrates to Act as a Navigotor
<
10
Earth-Encompassed Timepieces
Earth-Encompassed Timepieces
The Seiko Astron Stratosphere Watch Adjusts Automatically
<
9
Blind-Aiding Sneakers (UPDATE)
Blind-Aiding Sneakers (UPDATE)
The Le Chal Shoes Use GPS & Vibrations to Guide the Impaired
<
8
Luggage-Tracking Tags
Luggage-Tracking Tags
CalypsoTag Combines Designer Style with Luggage GPS Capabilities
<
7
Activity-Synced Chronographs
Activity-Synced Chronographs
Wave Smart Watch Interprets Circumstances to Provide Relevant Info
<
6
Custom Shopping Map Apps
Custom Shopping Map Apps
ParknShop x Beacon Technology is a Useful Shopping App Concept
<
5
Futuristic Windshield Displays
Futuristic Windshield Displays
The Continental AR-HUD System Displays Information on Windshields
<
4
GPS-Tracking Umbrellas
GPS-Tracking Umbrellas
The Blunt XS Metro + Tile Ensures People Never Lose an Umbrella Again
<
3
Innovative Navigation Cams
Innovative Navigation Cams
The Travelling Companion Panorama Camera is Optimal Tourist Technology
<
2
Child-Locating Footwear
Child-Locating Footwear
The Colorful Chip-Embedded GPS Shoes Help Parents Keep Track of Their Kids
<
1
Non-Invasive Navigational Equipment
Non-Invasive Navigational Equipment
The JVC Kenwood HUD Nav System Doesn't Distract the Driver
<