By Karen Peattie
AN app developed to improve accessibility for disabled people is being offered to supermarkets on a free trial basis to help remove some of the challenges faced by some individuals when they visit a shop during the current coronavirus lockdown.
The “Welcome” app developed by Edinburgh-based technology firm Neatebox, founded by former guide dog mobility instructor Gavin Neate, allows users to notify venues ahead of their arrival and request additional support if needed.
“Supermarkets have had to adapt rapidly to an evolving situation, creating innovative ways to minimise the risk of viral spread,” said Mr Neate. “However, for millions, the new rules are impossible to follow without more support.
“For individuals with autism, the rules can add an extra layer of anxiety,” he continued. “For someone who is blind, finding the end of the queue to enter the store is hugely difficult. Knowing where to stand on the two-metre-spaced markers and when to move forward is impossible without help, while social distancing is reliant on other people being aware.”
Neatebox’s technology, Mr Neate explained, is designed to address inadequate customer support by alerting a venue to an individual’s visit in advance, outlining their specific requirements and providing staff with an overview of the customer’s condition along with clear guidance on how to interact with that customer.
The app is free for end users and currently available on a free trial basis to all UK supermarket brands.
Mr Neate added: “We recognise the importance of immediate action and can install and deliver a trial of the system for free during the lockdown to help manage the disruptive effects of Covid-19.”
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