Just in time for St. Nicholas Day, the Reinickendorf district authority gave its visitors a very special gift: on December 6, District Mayor Emine Demirbüken-Wegner (CDU) officially launched the everGuide indoor navigation system at the town hall on Eichborndamm. “This navigation system guides visitors to a specific room on their smartphone with pinpoint accuracy and without barriers. It also helps them locate the nearest elevator, exit, or restroom—either through a map, voice instructions, or an acoustic compass.”

The mayor warmly thanked everyone involved in the project, especially the district representative for people with disabilities, Regina Vollbrecht, and Marcus Witzke from the Fraunhofer Institute FOKUS. “We are the first city hall in Berlin with such an indoor navigation system. I am pleased about this early Christmas present. It makes it easier for both blind and sighted people to access the services provided by our office.”

The Reinickendorf town hall is a large building, and many visitors find it difficult to navigate. Because searching for rooms can be challenging even for sighted citizens, and even more so for blind and visually impaired people, the commissioner for people with disabilities initiated the installation of an indoor navigation system in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute FOKUS. The markers on the ceilings of the office building are now scanned using an app, thus enabling orientation. Regina Vollbrecht: “We have taken another step towards accessibility. I am very pleased that this app benefits every visitor.”

Interested parties can download the everGuide app from the App or PlayStore.