Google is now including new wheelchair accessibility information on its maps!!
Spread the word to get Canada in on the roll out asap and encourage more people are tuned in to the need to see our cities barrier free.
The City of Oshawa and local businesses should be ready to ensure they have the most accurate information on the Google accessibility maps.
"Google has announced the deployment of a particularly useful functionality in its web mapping service, which will make it much easier for wheelchair users to see accessibility information.
The new feature is very easy to use. Once the "Accessible Places" option is activated in the mobile application's settings, Google Maps will display wheelchair icons to indicate locations with disabled access. Clicking on the icon will bring up further information about accessible seating, toilets, and parking.
Google already has information on wheelchair accessibility for more than 15 million locations around the world, mainly thanks to the participation of contributing Internet users, and it is this information that can now be permanently displayed in Maps. It should be noted that anyone can contribute information on disabled access to the service directly from an Android or iOS smartphone.
To take advantage of the new functionality, download the latest version of Google Maps, go to settings, accessibility, and activate "Accessible Places". The new feature is rolled out for both Android and iOS in Australia, Japan, the UK, and the US. Other countries will soon follow."
https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=-oWsAMwJ-ks
The company is also giving iOS users the ability to more easily contribute accessibility information, as is the case for the Android version of Google Maps. “This guide has tips for rating accessibility, in case you’re not sure what counts as being ‘accessible.’ We invite everyone to switch on Accessible Places and contribute accessibility information to help people in your community,” Google says.
When answering questions on Google Maps, you might encounter at least five different kinds of questions related to accessibility:
Spread the word to get Canada in on the roll out asap and encourage more people are tuned in to the need to see our cities barrier free.
The City of Oshawa and local businesses should be ready to ensure they have the most accurate information on the Google accessibility maps.
"Google has announced the deployment of a particularly useful functionality in its web mapping service, which will make it much easier for wheelchair users to see accessibility information.
The new feature is very easy to use. Once the "Accessible Places" option is activated in the mobile application's settings, Google Maps will display wheelchair icons to indicate locations with disabled access. Clicking on the icon will bring up further information about accessible seating, toilets, and parking.
Google already has information on wheelchair accessibility for more than 15 million locations around the world, mainly thanks to the participation of contributing Internet users, and it is this information that can now be permanently displayed in Maps. It should be noted that anyone can contribute information on disabled access to the service directly from an Android or iOS smartphone.
To take advantage of the new functionality, download the latest version of Google Maps, go to settings, accessibility, and activate "Accessible Places". The new feature is rolled out for both Android and iOS in Australia, Japan, the UK, and the US. Other countries will soon follow."
https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=-oWsAMwJ-ks
The company is also giving iOS users the ability to more easily contribute accessibility information, as is the case for the Android version of Google Maps. “This guide has tips for rating accessibility, in case you’re not sure what counts as being ‘accessible.’ We invite everyone to switch on Accessible Places and contribute accessibility information to help people in your community,” Google says.
When answering questions on Google Maps, you might encounter at least five different kinds of questions related to accessibility:
- Is there a wheelchair-accessible entrance?
- Is there a wheelchair-accessible bathroom?
- Is there wheelchair-accessible seating?
- Is there wheelchair-accessible parking?
- Is there a wheelchair-accessible elevator?
You can help remove barriers! As my friend Steven Moenster says, accessibility means a level playing field for all, and as our Oshawa Accessibility Advisory Committee Chair Lisa Hart says accessibility means Opportunities, and Dot McFarlane says to her it means Independence! Wouldn't you want to wish all these for your friends, family and neighbours??