We have these talking stops here in Brighton. Basically very good except for the fact that the initial fanfare of their unveiling has not seen any increase in the number of these stops being switched on to sound so only around 1 in 5 talk. The second problem is the very high density of traffic thundering past means the spoken word can be hard to hear. Finally the antics of the general public is pathetic. The speech is activated by a small device the VI carries in a pocket or on a keyring. When the stop speaks the other waiting people seem to freak out exclaiming loudly their amazement.
Roger----- Original Message ----- From: "tony sweeney" <deirton711@xxxxxxxxx>
To: "access-uk" <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Cc: "tony sweeney" <deirton711@xxxxxxxxx> Sent: Monday, December 21, 2009 11:27 AM Subject: [access-uk] Fw: [vicsireland] Talking Bus Stops
Hi All, Forwarding the below from Ciaran Ferry which appeared on the Vics list. Trust that it's on topic. It's valuable information surely. Tony----- Original Message ----- From: Ciaran FerryTo: vicsireland@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Sunday, December 20, 2009 9:32 PM Subject: [vicsireland] Talking Bus StopsI recently came across details of a number of projects in the UK which aim to make bus travel more accessible for the blind and visually impaired. The basic concept is that of a talking bus stop, where spoken bus information (routes / times etc) is provided by display units installed at various bus stops. These units are similar to those found at Luas stops around Dublin.The approach seems very simple, and if the CIE group intend to introduce these realtime display units at all their bus stops in the future, you'd imagine that it wouldn't be too difficult to ensure that they all have the capability to speak. Since we're dealing with technology, text resizing shouldn't be an issue either.Our friends at CFIT are currently working on a similar project. They're taking a very different approach though; they're focusing on developing a software application that will run on a mobile phone. The application will connect to real-time information systems via the Internet, and be able to provide detailed bus scheduling, route planning, and up -to-the-minute travel info. One of the advantages to this approach is that we won't have to rely on bus operators such as Dublin Bus to equip all their bus stops with accessible displays, we'll just install the application on our phones and away we go.And who says it's all doomb and gloomb in a recession... Read on for more.Talking Bus Stops for the blind and visually impaired (linked to Real Time Bus Information signs)Brighton & Hove City Council Sustainable Transport www.brighton-hove.gov.uk"In August 2007 Brighton & Hove became the first area in the country to introduce talking bus stops for blind and visually impaired people. Brighton and Hove City Council, in conjunction with Brighton & Hove Bus and Coach Company, have a well-established award-winning accessible bus policy.The RNIB React system links into the city's Bus Real Time Information signs allowing blind and visually impaired people to hear announcements at bus stops which tells them which bus stop they are at, which buses are coming and when they are due to arrive, meaning they no longer need to rely on fellow passengers for help.""Brighton & Hove City Council and the Brighton & Hove Bus and Coach Company have a quality bus partnership and, between them, have won major awards for bus accessibility policies, the real time information system and for innovations which have generally helped to increase bus patronage year on year, against national trends. The RNIB React system is another step towards making the city more accessible, bringing independence and confidence for blind and visually impaired people who want to use local buses. Talking bus stops were introduced in July and launched city-wide at 20 bus stops and a further 2 bus stops in East Sussex.A multi-disciplinary working group was been formed, including councillors, officers, system designers, users, local politicians and consultants. A partnership was formed with the Royal National Institute for Blind (RNIB) to evolve a RNIB React system from providing orientation messages to include Real Time Information. The interface to provide a text to speech link with the Siemens VDO Passenger Information Displays was created by working with SFX Technologies, whilst Atkins Consultants helped with project management. The resulting system can be replicated in other areas and interest has already been shown from London local authorities.In Brighton and Hove 1900 people were registered blind or partially sighted in March 2006 (DoH). It is estimated by the RNIB that under-registration is running at 20%, meaning that up to 2375 people in the city (1.0% of the local population ) could benefit from using Talking bus stops. The number of people with sight impairment problems is likely to double over the next 25 years as the population ages and diseases such as diabetes (a major cause of sight loss) becomes more prevalent.People over the age of 60 and all eligible people with disabilities can have concessionary bus travel in the city. The majority of Blind and partially sighted people (81%) are aged 65 and older so this new system helps to ensure that this section of the population who qualify for free travel can actually make good use of it!""Brighton & Hove's Talking Bus Stops were officially launched in August to a group of 70 users. Already one user has reported that he won't leave home without his key fob now and it has become as important to him as his mobile phone. Mick Etheridge says ?I travel into Brighton quite a lot on the buses and before the signs were made audio I used to struggle as it was not always possible to find someone to ask for the next bus time.?Alison Evans is also a regular user of the system: ?I use my keyfob daily on my way to work and home from work to check when my bus is due. In the evening I have a choice of buses and it helps me to know which one is due first so I can make the decision which one to get, rather than having to get whichever one arrives first because I don't know how long it is until the next one. What is even better is that my partner and I live in Peacehaven and Brighton & Hove Council were able to work with East Sussex County Council and install 2 of the React units at bus stops we both use regularly. It really is a great system and well done Brighton & Hove for being the first council to use the React system in this manner.?"- RNIB React System links into Siemens Real Time Bus Information System - Atkins Consultancy provided help with project management - SFX Technologies enabled the RNIB React system to link into the real time information systemA trial of a similar system took place in the Strathclyde region of Scotland:http://www.eyeway.org/includes/beyond-the-i/issue-8/talking-bus-stops2019-go-live-in-scotland 'Talking bus stops' go live in Scotland by Nausheen Abidi - last modified 2009-06-04 12:29 www.sdef.org.uk; Scottish Disability Equality Forum January 18, 2006Trials of a pioneering new system providing spoken information at bus stops about bus arrival times have gone live this month in Scotland. The three-month pilot will allow vision-impaired bus passengers to use Braille buttons to listen to information from the Intelligent Bus Information System (or I.B.I.S.). Information about I.B.I.S. can be accessed at www.spt.co.uk/bus/ibis.html.The units have been installed at 12 bus stops across the Strathclyde region, having received funding from the Scottish Executive.Bus times are updated from the headquarters of Strathclyde Passenger Transport, the organisation behind the scheme, and sent to units using wireless technology- - General Packet Radio Service (G.P.R.S.) -- and mobile phone technology from U.K. transport information provider Tandata. It is thought to be the first time that G.P.R.S. technology has been used in this way. However, although audio information can be accessed on the next five buses due at each stop, complete bus timetables are only available on-screen for sighted passengers.Strathclyde Passenger Transport (S.T.P.) information and support officer Lindsay Mathie told E-Access Bulletin there was plenty of scope to develop the new system. "This is a base system and lots can be added. It's not the end product, we want people's feedback. We see the costs and the units getting smaller," she said.In future, Mathie said S.T.P. may install hardware in the units that would allow passengers carrying a receptive fob that, on connection with a unit, would provide audible directions to I.B.I.S. bus stops.In tandem with the project, directions to each of the bus stops from Key locations have been published on the location description service Describe Online at www.describe-online.com/glasgow/ibis/index.htmlReal Time Bus Info on your phone Written by Joshue O Connor Wednesday, 29 July 2009Wouldn't it be great if blind and vision impaired people could have an easy way of working out bus routes, and also find relevant 'up to the minute' transport information? Imagine being able to do this in a city your have never been to before, wouldn't it make getting around so much easier?We are working with a group of partners on developing an accessible application that we think will do just that and also have it delivered straight to your mobile phone!Developers from the Telecommunications Software & Systems Group (<ACRONYM="TELECOMMUNICATIONS Group? Systems & Software>Dublin Bus are collaborating this project.We aim to deliver this much needed information in a way that can be accessed by everyone using the mobile phone technologies that are widely used today.Mobile Phones are becoming increasingly sophisticated and allow the user to perform a broad variety of tasks. We have recently seen a new prototype of the application, and it looks very promising.** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq
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