The use of a small, portable Tactile Acoustical Navigation and Information Assistant (TANIA) by ambulatory blind people in complex environments is presented. TANIA utilizes an inertial sensor, tablet computer, and enhanced mapping to provide precise navigation of up to one-step accuracy. Its operation is relatively simple, even for elderly people with no computer experience. Previously-installed beacon or tag infrastructure is not required, which expands environmental access for blind users to any area where adequate digital mapping has been done. Current development in pilot locations is described, including examples of how maps are augmented with specific, location-based information. Such data can be presented to the user acoustically or in Braille. Given the ever-increasing availability of global positioning and information services, systems such as TANIA suggest the potential for independent and precise worldwide navigation by blind people.