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Call-based public transport services for visually impaired. Marianne Flø Transport Safety and Informatics ASK-IT Conference Nice 26.-27. oktober 2006. Outline. Background AKTA goals Partners Demonstrators Evaluation.
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Call-based public transport services for visually impaired Marianne Flø Transport Safety and Informatics ASK-IT Conference Nice 26.-27. oktober 2006
Outline • Background • AKTA goals • Partners • Demonstrators • Evaluation
Travelling by public transport - What challenges do visually impaired meet? • Getting on the right bus • Entering the bus • Getting of the right bus stop • The need for information is simular for visually impaired as for able-bodied, but how the information is communicated requires other instruments. E.g. sound instead of text.
AKTA objective • The main objective is to increase the use of public transport by using information and communication technology to develop services adjusted to the passengers requirements for real time information and booking of public transport. • Areas of knowledge: • Getting the people to choose public transport • Individually adaption of the information services • HMI that satisfy the principles for universal design
AKTA – Partners and fundings • The Norwegian Research Council • Public Roads Administration • The County Municipality of Møre & Romsdal • Trafikanten (giving information about public traffic) • The Norwegian Association of the blind and partially sighted • SINTEF (R&D) • AB Thoreb (contractor – real time information system) • Nettbuss AS (bus company)
The history of AKTA • Preliminary study in 2004 • AKTA started in 2005 • Demonstrators planned in Trondheim • Politicians/Municipality/Bus company failed to realize the planned real time information system • Demonstrators were moved to the county of Møre & Romsdal
Demonstrator area • Timekspressen in Møre & Romsdal • Transport between • Kristiansund • Molde • Ålesund • Ørsta • Volda • 200 km distance • 5 hours
Today’s real time information system • System delivered by AB Thoreb • Monitors for real time information on • 20 buses • 7 bus stops • 4 hospitals • Positioning by GPS/odeometer • Communication between bus/central system by IT-radio
Extending functionality of the real time information system – Step 1 I want to travel with bus line 1 from bus stop 1 to bus stop 10 at 11:00 Central system Planning the trip
Extending functionality of the real time information system – Step 2 Your bus will arrive at bus stop 1 in 10 minutes SMS Message Central system
Extending functionality of the real time information system – Step 3a Your bus will arrive at bus stop 1 in 3 minutes SMS Message Central system
Extending functionality of the real time information system – Step 3b You have a passenger at bus stop 1 that need assistance SMS Message Central system
Extending functionality of the real time information system – Step 4 Your bus will arrive at bus stop 10 in 3 minutes SMS Message Central system
Technical evaluation • How many are using the system • Reliabilty • of the real time information system • of the message server • Technical system • Should the functionallity be extended? • Going from a demonstrator to a marketable product - What should be developed?
Evaluation among the users • Selection of user groups • Visually impaired • Wheel chair users/functionnally disabled • Able bodied • Bus driver
Questions to be answered (I) • Passengers • Do the passengers get information in time? • Is the information understandable? • Do the passenger have willingness to pay? • Do the information have any influence on travelling pattern • What information will they ask for in a large city?
Questions to be answered (II) • Bus drivers • Are the bus drivers satisfied with the messages concerning assistance of passengers? • Do they get the messages in time? • Is the information useful/helpfull? • Do the messages disturbe the bus driver? • Do the bus driver have any comments on the effects on traffic safety due to more work load?
Preliminary plans • Trips consisting of several buses with interchange or multiple transport means • Improving the information with regard to changes • Taxi or shuttle bus as • a supplement to the ordinary bus routes • or to bring passenger to junctions • SP survey • Passengers needs for information? • Would non-users start travelling by bus if better information?
Thank you for your attention Marianne.flo@sintef.no