Taking Back the Streets: NaviLens and the Fight for Open Navigation

NaviLens is a for-profit service that provides navigational data resolution, based on ddTags placed around the environment. The tags are designed so that they can be quickly scanned with a mobile device while at a much greater distance than QR codes or while moving. The main use case of NaviLens is to improve navigation for those with visual impairments.

This system is now in use on trams in Melbourne, Australia. I argue that while this is a step in the right direction for accessibility, it also grants monopolistic control of the “physical namespace” to a profit seeking entity.

This talk will explore the technology behind Navilens and the social issues around its adoption. I'll demonstrate a path to a free and open alternative using Python and the community dataset that was started during PyCon AU 2024.