Microsoft Corporation 2018-2019

Making Smart Cities Inclusive

Smart Cities incorporate information and communication technologies to improve the quality of government services and citizen welfare. A critical component to the success of Smart Cities is inclusivity, meaning that they provide affordable, accessible and equal opportunities while avoiding marginalization, discrimination and exclusion. Our team worked with Microsoft and local stakeholders to make Smart Cities like Boston more inclusive. Previewing travel can be a key tool in anticipating navigation, yet there are few tools that enable this for persons with blindness or visual impairments. Microsoft's Cognitive Services enables the conversion of large amounts of information, such as StreetSide images, into a more accessible format. We built a prototype software solution that enables our users to virtually explore Boston, get a sense of the local landscape, and prepare themselves for their journey. 

Faculty Advisor

Lynn Andrea Stein

Team Members

Sarah Barden

Matthew Beaudouin-Lafon

Kaitlyn Keil

Andrew Pan

Rachel Yang