BASEL (dpa-AFX) - Novartis Pharmaceuticals (NVS) Tuesday announced the release of new features for its ViaOpta applications, and the extension for use with smart watches.
According to the Swiss drugmaker, the discreet, hands-free nature of using ViaOpta app with wearable devices, like Apple Watch and Android Wear, provides users with an experience that seamlessly fits into their existing routines allowing those with visual impairments to navigate daily life with even greater ease.
ViaOpta Nav is the first turn-by-turn navigation app available for a wearable device, designed specifically for visually impaired people, providing voice guidance and vibration settings, which alert the user to upcoming intersections and landmarks.
The users can ask for their exact position, add waypoints to a calculated route, and find nearby destinations or landmarks and save them as favorites. Users and their caretakers can also share and access a person's exact location.
New features of the ViaOpta apps, previously available for iPhone and Android mobile phones, are also available to enhance the daily lives of people with visual impairments.
ViaOpta apps are currently offered in several languages, including English, German, French, Spanish, Arabic, Japanese, Greek, Portuguese, Dutch, Italian and Hungarian.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX