A person in a wheelchair using augmented reality for indoor navigation.

Navigate with Confidence: How Augmented Reality is Revolutionizing Wheelchair Accessibility

Rhea Morgan in Tech & Innovation June 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover the innovative technology using mobile augmented reality to enhance indoor navigation for wheelchair users, making everyday environments more accessible and independent."

For individuals with lower limb disabilities, simple tasks and navigating different environments can present significant hurdles. Wheelchairs often provide essential mobility and promote social inclusion, yet they don't eliminate the challenges of navigating complex indoor spaces. Imagine the frustration of trying to find the accessible restroom in a sprawling hospital or navigating a crowded shopping mall.

Assistive technology is key to unlocking greater independence and improving the quality of life for people with mobility impairments. One promising avenue of innovation involves mobile augmented reality (AR). AR overlays digital information onto the real world, offering the potential to create intuitive and accessible navigation systems. This technology can guide wheelchair users through indoor spaces, providing real-time assistance and customized routes.

This article delves into the use of mobile AR to develop indoor navigation systems tailored for wheelchair users. We'll explore the challenges, the proposed solutions, and the potential benefits of this technology, examining how it can record building layouts, address accessibility issues, and provide a more seamless and confident navigation experience.

What Makes Indoor Navigation So Challenging for Wheelchair Users?

A person in a wheelchair using augmented reality for indoor navigation.

While outdoor navigation systems have become commonplace, indoor navigation presents unique difficulties. GPS signals, which are the foundation of most outdoor systems, often weaken or become unreliable inside buildings. This lack of precision makes it difficult to accurately pinpoint a user's location and provide effective guidance. Furthermore, indoor environments are filled with obstacles and variations that are not accounted for in standard GPS data.

For wheelchair users, these challenges are amplified. A proper navigation system must consider physical limitations, such as the need to avoid stairs, navigate narrow doorways, and locate accessible ramps and elevators. Many existing systems fail to provide this level of detail, leaving wheelchair users to rely on guesswork, potentially encountering obstacles and inaccessible areas.

Lack of precise indoor positioning: GPS signals are often unreliable indoors.
Complex environments: Indoor spaces have many obstacles that standard navigation systems don't account for.
Accessibility barriers: Stairs, narrow doorways, and a lack of ramps can create significant challenges.
Need for customized routes: Wheelchair users require routes that consider their specific needs and limitations.

Mobile augmented reality (AR) offers a compelling solution to these challenges. By overlaying digital information onto the real world, AR can provide real-time guidance, highlight accessible routes, and offer customized assistance tailored to the specific needs of wheelchair users.

The Future of Accessible Navigation

Mobile AR technology holds immense promise for revolutionizing indoor navigation for wheelchair users. By addressing the limitations of existing systems and incorporating user-specific needs, AR-based navigation can empower individuals with mobility impairments to navigate indoor spaces with greater confidence and independence. As AR technology continues to evolve, we can anticipate even more sophisticated and user-friendly navigation solutions that promote accessibility and inclusion for all.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1590/2446-4740.01515, Alternate LINK

Title: Mobile Augmented Reality Enhances Indoor Navigation For Wheelchair Users

Subject: Biomedical Engineering

Journal: Research on Biomedical Engineering

Publisher: FapUNIFESP (SciELO)

Authors: Luciene Chagas De Oliveira, Alcimar Barbosa Soares, Alexandre Cardoso, Adriano De Oliveira Andrade, Edgard Afonso Lamounier Júnior

Published: 2016-05-24

Everything You Need To Know

How does mobile augmented reality (AR) enhance independence for wheelchair users?

Mobile augmented reality (AR) enhances independence for wheelchair users by overlaying digital information onto the real world, offering real-time guidance and customized routes through indoor spaces. This helps in navigating complex environments, avoiding obstacles, and locating accessible routes, fostering a more seamless and confident navigation experience.

What are the primary limitations of using standard GPS for indoor wheelchair navigation?

Standard GPS systems face several limitations for indoor wheelchair navigation. GPS signals often weaken or become unreliable inside buildings, leading to a lack of precise indoor positioning. Additionally, indoor environments are complex, filled with obstacles that standard GPS data doesn't account for, and they often present accessibility barriers such as stairs and narrow doorways. This means wheelchair users can't rely on standard GPS to provide customized routes that consider their specific needs and limitations.

What specific accessibility barriers does mobile augmented reality (AR) address for wheelchair users during indoor navigation?

Mobile augmented reality (AR) specifically addresses accessibility barriers for wheelchair users by providing real-time guidance to avoid stairs, navigate narrow doorways, and locate accessible ramps and elevators. It also considers physical limitations and user-specific needs to create customized routes, ensuring a safer and more efficient navigation experience compared to standard systems that often overlook these crucial details.

In what ways can mobile augmented reality (AR) navigation systems record building layouts to assist wheelchair users?

Mobile augmented reality (AR) navigation systems can record building layouts by creating detailed digital maps that highlight accessible routes, elevators, ramps, and other relevant accessibility features. By overlaying this information onto the user's view through a mobile device, AR provides a real-time, interactive guide that adapts to the user's movements and needs. This allows wheelchair users to navigate complex indoor spaces with greater confidence, as the system proactively identifies and displays the most suitable paths, thus addressing the limitations of traditional navigation methods.

What future advancements in mobile augmented reality (AR) technology can further revolutionize indoor navigation for wheelchair users?

Future advancements in mobile augmented reality (AR) technology can further revolutionize indoor navigation for wheelchair users through more sophisticated mapping techniques, improved object recognition, and enhanced user customization. Integrating sensor data from wheelchairs could provide real-time feedback to the AR system, allowing for dynamic route adjustments based on the user's immediate environment. Furthermore, AI-driven personalization could learn user preferences and adapt navigation guidance accordingly, ultimately creating a more intuitive and user-friendly experience. These innovations promise to promote greater accessibility and inclusion, enabling wheelchair users to navigate indoor spaces with increased confidence and independence.