‘No Dark Doors’ Initiative Is Using New Tech To Help The Blind And Visually Impaired Navigate Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, NC — Charlotte is launching a program designed to help the blind and visually impaired get around the city.

It’s an initiative called ‘No Dark Doors,’ and the Queen City is the first to have it. Here’s how it works:

iBeacons are installed around Uptown, which use bluetooth technology to transmit your location. An audible description of your surroundings is then transmitted through an app called ‘Blindsquare’.

Erin Darcy lives in Uptown, and says before she lost her sight, she always used to take walks around the city.

“I can’t see the street signs of businesses, so having something like Blindsquare that can help me get around it makes it easier for me to live my life independently.”

The technology is already being installed and tested at Bank of America’s financial centers and ATMs.