Macro-Navigation

The process of navigating through the broader environment at the level of routes, streets, landmarks, and destinations — knowing where you are in a city, which direction to travel, and how to reach a distant goal. In contrast to micro-navigation (detecting immediate obstacles and following paths), macro-navigation involves understanding large-scale spatial relationships and making high-level route decisions. For blind travellers, macro-navigation is not addressed by traditional mobility aids like the long cane or guide dog, which only support micro-navigation. Technologies such as GPS-based navigation systems, talking maps, and pre-journey planning tools have been developed specifically to fill this macro-navigation gap.