Technology
Google should make wheelchair mobility details more popular on maps.
Starting today, Google Maps will feature a new mode called Accessible Places that, when switched on, will show more information on wheelchair accessibility, the company announced on Thursday. It's going to roll out slowly, the company states, on both Android and iOS.
"Once Accessible Places is turned on, the wheelchair icon will show an accessible entrance and you'll be able to see if the venue has accessible seating, toilets or parking," Google states in a blog post. "If it is verified that the place does not have an open entrance, we will also display the detail on the maps."
Google designed the feature for 130 million global wheelchair users, 30 million of whom live in the US, and built it using the crowd-sourced efforts of its local guide volunteers, who helped double the number of business accessibility listings to more than 15 million following Google's call for help in 2017. "Store owners have also helped Google My Business to add accessibility information to their company profiles to help users who need free access to stairs find it on Google Maps and Search," Google says.
"To get wheelchair accessibility information more prominently displayed on Google Maps, update your app to the latest version, go to Settings, select" Accessibility, "and turn on" Accessible Places. "The feature is available on both Android and iOS," Google says.
The company also offers iOS users the ability to add accessibility information more quickly, as is the case with the Android edition of Google Maps. "This guide has tips on accessibility scores, in case you're not sure what counts as 'available.' We encourage you to turn to Available Places and add information on accessibility to benefit people in your neighborhood," says Google.
