The Soundscape application from Microsoft is being terminated, but the project code will be made accessible as open-source software. 2018 witnessed the release of the Soundscape iOS app, which Microsoft Research seemed to have been figuring out for six-plus years. Unlike conventional step-by-step navigation apps, Soundscape avails 3D audio prompts to escalate ambient awareness and deliver blind or visually impaired people comfort in strange environments.
The iOS Soundscape application from Microsoft will be discontinued next month but won’t be completely gone. The program uses OpenStreetMap’s data, a crowdsourced map of the globe that is available for free use thanks to an unlatched license, to tell you where you are and in which direction you are traveling. The purpose of soundscape is to enhance awareness and perception of your environment rather than to replace a supportive feature like a mobility stick or guide dog.
The Source Code Of Microsoft Soundscape Will Be Publicly Accessible
The iOS application won’t be available from the Apple App Store as of January 3, 2023. It is informed that users who already have the application downloaded will be authorized to use it till June 2023.
The source code, on 3rd Jan, will likewise be made publicly accessible on GitHub. According to Microsoft, this will enable anyone to expand upon and discover new applications for its cutting-edge feature set. To aid beginners in getting started, documentation on how to construct and operate the system also would now be made available.
Microsoft claimed that it is instinctive to stop or migrate some projects when their research portfolio changes. They are making the code available as open-source software because they think the community could profit from the experiences gained while working on the project.
