Lin Donglai

Explore freely, move boldly.

Orinav helps people with visual impairments navigate routes, crossings, and nearby hazards in an easier way.

It is a better navigation application for people with visual impairments that combines route planning and environmental awareness in one single system.

It aims to improve the daily independence of people with visual impairments by making independent travel safer and easier.

Learn more on Orinav’s website

12%

On common suburban routes, Orinav has been experimentally proven to reduce navigation time by up to 12%.

43%

Orinav can also improved the number of hazardous approaches by up to 43% compared to traditional navigation apps.

700+

Today, 700+ active users across 5 countries are using Orinav to improve their travels session by session.

Several students walking with several people with visual impairments in the rain.
Orinav team members interviewing people with blindness.
A woman with blindness using a white cane and Orinav to navigate. Lin is behind her, recording.
Orinav running with actual users.
Lin wearing an Orinav hoodie, holding a microphone speaking at Inclusive Innovations.
Orinav has been invited to multiple professional industry events, such as Inclusive Innovations ’25.

We’re delighted to be a finalist in the Tech4Good Awards 2026!

Orinav has been selected as one among 36 professional projects in one of the world’s most prestigious awards in inclusive innovation.

#Tech4GoodAwards #TechForGood #T4GYoungPioneer

View Our Entry

The Problem

Independent outdoor travel requires more than just knowing the route.

For people with visual impairments (PVIs), it also requires awareness of obstacles, crossings, and hazards—information that is not readily available without sight. However, existing navigation apps provide limited to no support for this task.

Orinav is a new mobile navigation application that aims to address this problem.

Solution

Developed in collaboration with the Institute of Accessibility Development at Tsinghua University, Orinav solves this problem by integrating both route guidance and environmental awareness for people with visual impairments in one app. It offers:

  • Obstacle detection
  • Crossing assistance
  • Traffic light recognition
  • Turn-by-turn guidance
  • Sidewalk orientation

Testing & Results

In a pilot evaluation with 18 testers with visual impairments in a typical suburban outdoor route, Orinav:

  • reduced route completion time by 12%,
  • reduced hesitation frequency by 44%, and
  • reduced dangerous approaches by 43%

compared to Amap, a mainstream Chinese navigation application, with a statistically significant effect.

Impact & Recognition

Impact & Reach

  • 700+ active users across 5 countries
  • Testing campaign with Hequn NGO collaboration

Recognition

  • Tech4Good Awards 2026 Young Pioneer Finalist
  • Inclusive Innovations 2025, only featured high school project
  • Reported by The Beijing News and News Express on Beijing Radio and Television Station.
  • Features adopted by industry product TouchPulse Tiera

My Role

  • Founded project and coordinated 5-person development team.
  • Designed product direction, built iOS/Android app architecture, integrated map services, developed crossing and obstacle recognition algorithms.
  • Organized user testing and coordinated outreach with NGOs and accessibility communities.

Next Steps

  • Scale to more users domestically through Hequn NGO collaboration and internationally through advertising campaigns.
  • Improve feature set with addition of tactile paving recognition and entrance guidance.