# GPS-Enabled Public Transit Apps OnTheBus Helps the Visually and Audibly Impaired Navigate By Sarah Moore | Published 2012-06-22 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/onthebus References: [gizmag](http://www.gizmag.com/onthebus-blind-bus-navigation-app/23054/) & [uab.es](http://www.uab.es/servlet/Satellite/latest-news/news-detail/researchers-create-the-first-gps-for-the-blind-1096476786473.html?noticiaid=1340258260255) Taking [public transit](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/transit-accessibility) can be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to navigate for someone who is [visually or audibly impaired](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/accessible-communication), but the OnTheBus smartphone app was created to help ease some of that frustration. The app uses both visual and [auditory cues](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/catalogue-of-audio-guides) to detail the route one should take to both get to the bus they need to take and then to help them determine what stop they need to get off at. It first gives the user a listing of several routes that they could take to get to the bus and then helps guide them to the bus either through speaking commands or a step-by-step moving map. The app also lets the user know what stop is the correct one for them and alerts them to get off the bus. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.0/10 - Popularity: 32% | Activity: 19% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Mobile](https://www.trendhunter.com/mobile) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Accessibility-enhancing Public Transit Apps:** Opportunity for developing apps that aid visually and audibly impaired individuals in navigating public transit. - **Multimodal Navigation Solutions:** Disruptive innovation potential in creating apps that combine visual and auditory cues for seamless navigation across different modes of transportation. - **Personalized Public Transit Guidance:** Opportunity to develop apps that provide customized route suggestions and step-by-step guidance for public transit users. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Mobile App Development:** Disruptive innovation opportunities in designing and developing accessibility-enhancing public transit apps. - **Transportation Technology:** Potential for disruptive innovation in incorporating multimodal navigation solutions into public transit systems. - **Assistive Technology:** Opportunity to create personalized public transit guidance apps for visually and audibly impaired individuals. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Passanger Assistant App Pilots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nj-transit.md) - [Assistive Navigation Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/navigation-system.md) - [Convenience-Focused Transportation Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/transportation-apps.md) - [Accessibility-Focused Navigation Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/atlas-apps.md) - [Digital Trip Planning Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/trip-planning-platform.md) - [Comprehensive Travel Navigation Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/destination-app.md) - [Accessible Subway QR Codes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/colorful-qr-codes.md) - [Haptic Navigation Wristbands](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/haptic-navigation-wristband.md) - [Transportation Network Wayfinding Technologies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bee-network.md)