NaviLens + Soundscape Team Up!
- Tim Fahlberg
- Apr 9
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 16
Big News for Navigation: NaviLens and Soundscape Community Team Up
We’re thrilled to share that NaviLens is now officially integrated with Soundscape Community, and that real-world testing is already happening in Spain (Madrid and Murcia) and the USA (San Antonio and Austin, Texas)!
For those unfamiliar, Soundscape Community is the spiritual successor to Microsoft Soundscape — a beloved wayfinding app used by many blind and low-vision travelers. The new Soundscape Community app continues that legacy by empowering users with spatial audio and customizable points of interest (POIs).
With the April 2025 updates, things got even more exciting.
What’s New with the Integration?
Version 1.3.2 (April 9, 2025)
Direct NaviLens access from Soundscape: When users come across a NaviLens-enabled point of interest, they can tap the NaviLens icon directly from the Soundscape information card or options menu. This means faster, smoother navigation without the need to switch apps manually.
2. Version 1.3.1 (April 3, 2025)
A NaviLens shortcut now appears right on the Soundscape Community home screen
When a NaviLens code is detected nearby, it offers instant access to rich, accessible
information.
Why This Matters
This integration combines the hyper-local, directional audio guidance of Soundscape Community with the on-demand, multilingual, and touch-free information that NaviLens provides. Together, these tools offer a more seamless and inclusive experience for blind and low-vision users — and it’s all happening in real time on the streets, museums, and more in Madrid and Murcia (the home of NaviLens!), and thousands of bus stops in San Antonio and Austin.
Whether you’re exploring public art, finding a museum entrance, or navigating transit hubs, this duo makes wayfinding safer, faster, and more enjoyable.
Where It’s Being Tested
Currently, the partnership is being piloted in Madrid and Murcia, Spain, and San Antonio and Austin, Texas, USA. Users report smoother transitions between spatial audio orientation and NaviLens-triggered information delivery. These cities have been early adopters of accessible tech, and this rollout could serve as a model for broader adoption in cities worldwide.
Want to Try It?
If you're in any of these cities:
Download the Soundscape Community app (free on iOS only) and the NaviLens app.
Open it near a NaviLens code (often found at bus stops, stations, museums, or wayfinding signage - See the Where is NaviLens Interactive Map for locations in Spain, this Google Map of 80 CapMetro locations in Austin, TX, and this VIA webpage for the 6,000 locations in San Antonio, TX.
Look for the new NaviLens icon in the information card — tap it to launch NaviLens right from Soundscape!
Accessibility Is Better Together
This partnership shows what’s possible when accessibility tools collaborate instead of compete. By blending spatial awareness with rich, multilingual content, NaviLens and Soundscape Community are pushing the boundaries of inclusive technology.
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