Microsoft Soundscape
A map delivered in 3D sound
Support for Microsoft Soundscape
Thoughtful input from our customers, partners and the community about the role technology can play to empower people has been a rewarding experience and enables us to continually improve our products and services. Please continue to share your experiences with Soundscape, and if you have questions or need additional support:
- Ask questions and share feedback—select Microsoft Soundscape in the Microsoft Research category at https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/ (opens in new tab).
- We want Soundscape to be accessible for everyone. Find accessibility support via the Disability Answer Desk (opens in new tab).
- The Microsoft Soundscape iOS app is being discontinued as of Jan 3, 2023, and will not be available for download. Existing installations can be used until Aug. 30, 2023. Additional information: https://aka.ms/ossblog (opens in new tab).
A note from the Soundscape team (Dec 2022)
We are grateful to all of those who tried and found value in the Soundscape app, and appreciate all the feedback and stories you shared with us over the years — from remote instruction by Orientation & Mobility specialists, to fun explorations using Street Preview, to sharing how Markers and Annotations helped people connect to places and each other. We hope these experiences and new ones will be enabled by the open-source release of the Soundscape research project.
Frequently asked questions
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Soundscape uses two different data sources, OpenStreetMap (OSM) and Bing Maps. If the data was called out automatically as you moved around, then this is OSM data, if you accessed the data through search or the Nearby Places list, then this is Bing data.
For out of data Bing Maps data, if you find the erroneous place at https://www.bing.com/maps (opens in new tab), then select ‘Suggest an edit’ to report the issue to Bing.
OSM is an open-source map, so anyone can edit it. You can create an account at https://www.openstreetmap.org/ (opens in new tab) and make change to the incorrect information yourself, or you can ask for help on the OSM forum at https://forum.openstreetmap.org (opens in new tab).
A good place to start is to find your country or region on the ‘Index’ list at https://forum.openstreetmap.org/index.php (opens in new tab)
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At initial launch, Soundscape was available for download only in the UK and US and has since been released in Australia, Canada, Sweden, France and Brazil; however, if you are traveling to other countries Soundscape will continue to work, but please be aware of carrier charges if not on Wi-Fi. Regarding opening to other markets, we are working hard with partners and other organizations to determine the most effective way we can do this and will provide updates on our website as we have them.
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Soundscape is currently available for Apple iOS, running on iPhone SE, iPhone 6S and later.
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- You can enable Siri shortcuts for Soundscape by opening settings from the Soundscape menu and then selecting ‘Siri Shortcuts’. Select the add button next to each of the shortcuts to add them to Siri on your phone.
- To use the Siri Shortcuts, your phone will have to be unlocked, but this can be used as a quick way to complete a specific task within the Soundscape app.
Have more questions? Email us at soundscapefeed@microsoft.com
“I found a performing arts center in my new neighborhood that I didn’t know existed until I used the app.”
— Priscilla Jimenez
