Microsoft To Pull Off Soundscape 3D Audio Project Catering To Visually Impaired, Move It To Open Source Code

Microsoft Corp MSFT prepared to abort an experimental research project that leveraged audio-based technology to help visually-impaired people navigate and gain more awareness of their surroundings.
However, Microsoft said it would release the code for other developers under an open-source license.
Microsoft debuted Soundscape in 2017, helping people become "more comfortable with unfamiliar places" using 3D audio cues.
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The project bred an Apple Inc AAPL iOS app in 2018 that reads out points of interest as the user walks by notable roads and intersections, TechCrunch reports.
From January 3, 2023, Microsoft will remove the Soundscape app from the App Store and release the underlying code on GitHub.
In related news, Microsoft also eyed building a "super app" that combines shopping, messaging, web search, news feeds, and other services in a one-stop smartphone app.
Microsoft executives wanted the app to boost the company's multibillion-dollar advertising business, and Bing search and draw more users to Teams messaging and other mobile services.
Price Action: MSFT shares traded higher by 3.27% at $260.75 on the last check Tuesday.