In some embodiments, an electronic device displays indications of safety characteristics of one or more navigational segments of a navigation route. In some embodiments, an electronic device displays navigation options. In some embodiments, an electronic device presents indications of navigation directions while navigation along a route.

Navigation apparatus in which a current location and a current orientation of the navigation unit are determined. Navigation information data is generated based on navigation map data stored in a memory and the determined current location and the determined current orientation of the navigation apparatus. Navigation information is displayed by a display unit according to the generated navigation information data. The display unit also comprises an electrovibration system for generating electrovibrations to be sensed by a user touching the display unit depending on the generated navigation information data.

The present invention provides portable navigation systems, devices, methods and software for provision of navigation indications to a user in a GPS-denied environment, the system including at least one portable device, including a navigation Application (App) adapted to provide the user with navigational instructions and at least one interface component to provide at least one direction-specific instruction of movement to the user, wherein the App comprises an embedded algorithm adapted to fragment a continuous line course on a map associated with a two or three-dimensional route, the algorithm constructed to provide instructions to the user, responsive to a current position of the device associated with the route, wherein the at least one device is adapted to provide commands from the algorithm to activate the at least one vibrational components, responsive to a position of the device.

In some embodiments, an electronic device displays indications of safety characteristics of one or more navigational segments of a navigation route. In some embodiments, an electronic device displays navigation options. In some embodiments, an electronic device presents indications of navigation directions while navigation along a route.

A system and method for providing directional feedback. A communication session is established between a first directional interface and one or more directional interfaces through at least a server. A free form path is received at a server from a first directional interface utilized by a first user. The free from path is a continuous input between at least a start point and an end point of the free form path for one or more user utilizing the one or more directional interfaces. The free form path is converted to directional feedback. The free form path is aligned to available paths communicated by the first directional interface utilizing mapping data to generate the directional feedback for the one or more users utilizing the one or more directional interfaces. The free form path is aligned to available paths communicated by the first directional interface utilizing mapping information to generate the directional feedback. The directional feedback is sent from the server to one or more directional interfaces utilized by one or more users associated with the first directional interface.

Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage devices for providing directions haptically such that sight and hearing can continue unimpeded. In one exemplary embodiment, a wearable device (such as earphones, ear rings, gloves, glasses, or other wearable objects) configured as disclosed herein receives directions to an intended destination for a user, the directions comprising a movement action and a distance to the movement action. The wearable device has multiple haptic output units and generates, through one of those units, a haptic output based on the directions. This allows the user to receive the directions through touch rather than looking at their mobile device or from audio.

An apparatus comprising: an image processor configured to determine at least one image parameter with respect to at least one image displayed on at least one display; a touch controller configured to determine at least one touch parameter with respect to the at least one display configured to display the at least one image; and a tactile effect generator configured to generate at least one tactile signal based on the at least one touch parameter and the at least one image parameter.

A clothing item, in particular a belt, with at least two actuators for triggering tactile stimuli for a person wearing the clothing item, wherein the at least two actuators are or can be connected to a control unit for actuating the actuators, the control unit is formed to activate the at least two actuators within the scope of at least two activation patterns, and the at least two activation patterns are assigned to different action instructions for the person wearing the clothing item, which action instructions can be output to the person wearing the clothing item via the activation of the activation patterns, wherein the at least two activation patterns include the combined activation of the at least two actuators at different parts of the body that are distinguishable for the person wearing the clothing item.

In a guidance support device to be used by being inserted into footwear, a plurality of vibration generating members generate vibrations at a plurality of positions on a foot of a user who uses the guidance support device. A position acquisition part acquires a current position. A route acquisition part acquires a route from the current position to a destination. A vibration control part, on condition that a route pattern at a current position on the route fits any one of a plurality of predetermined patterns, vibrates the vibration generating members in a combination corresponding to the pattern.

An apparatus comprising: an image processor configured to determine at least one image parameter with respect to at least one image displayed on at least one display; a touch controller configured to determine at least one touch parameter with respect to the at least one display configured to display the at least one image; and a tactile effect generator configured to generate at least one tactile signal based on the at least one touch parameter and the at least one image parameter.