Mention July 7 to any Londoner and it will spark memories of a tragic day back in 2005 which will never be forgotten. In a series of coordinated suicide attacks which targeted civilians using public transport during the busy morning rush hour, 52 people lost their lives, and over 700 hundred were injured.
One of those tragically injured was Daniel Biddle, who lost both his legs, spleen, and left eye after one of the bombs exploded on a tube train he was travelling on. Mr. Biddle soon realised that what happened to him "robbed him of the ability to just go anywhere."
Finding himself having to use a wheelchair, he discovered that London can be a very inaccessible city for those with disabilities. Mr Biddle noted that there were "numerous" instances where he was unable to access public conveniences, restaurants, and other buildings. He realised that "there was a lack of useful information for people in a wheelchair, those with learning difficulties, or people with a visual or hearing impairment" and set about to change this.
The result? Together with his friend, Tobi Collett, he has released the 'Ldn Access' app. The app uses location-based technology to pinpoint where the user is and inform them of nearby accessible locations such as restaurants, theatres, hotels, pubs, and other attractions.
The app has been designed to meet the specific needs of those with dexterity problems and only requires the pushing of clear icons to access the information on-the-move. Perhaps one of the most valuable features is its ability work offline, therefore using it whilst on the tube will pose no problems whatsoever.
Currently the app is only available for Apple's iOS devices, but both Mr. Biddle and Mrs. Collett hope to reinvest money earned from downloads to release versions of other platforms including Android and Blackberry.
With the forthcoming Olympic Games coming to London, the app also includes a section specifically listing the accessibility of the various venues and also lists other nearby places worth visiting. This app will help visitors to discover what a hidden gem London truly is, and hopefully will benefit the huge amount of people expected to visit the Paralympics later this year.
52 stainless steel columns represent the victims of the July 7 bombing in London. (Source: Wikimedia)
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