[tabi] OT cabs in NY have become more accessible for blind
- From: K4NKZ Jim <k4nkz@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: tabi <tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2012 00:36:45 -0400
note: now all they have to do is learn how to speek english!
Paying for a cab in New York just became more accessible for blind people.
Feature Writer Alena Roberts - Paying For a Taxi in New York Just Became
More Accessible
I am not an experienced cab rider by any means, but the few times I've
taken one, I've had to trust that the driver was honest with me about
how much I
owed since there was no accessible way for me to know the cost per mile
or how far I had traveled. This is just one example of the many
situations where
the blind have to trust their sighted peers to not lie to them about
the cost of things.
Since many people who take cabs pay with their credit card, this problem
can be even more dangerous. A blind passenger wouldn't know until it was
too late
that they had been overcharged. Having recognized this issue, the
company CMT and Lighthouse International have teamed up together to
solve this problem.
In a short time, they've designed an accessible credit card reader so
that blind passengers can pay with ease and have the comfort that
they've paid the
proper amount.
In order to turn on the accessible features, the passenger can either
ask their driver to turn it on or swipe a card provided by Lighthouse
International.
The cards can be ordered from the Lighthouse by calling
1-800-829-0500.
The accessible interface can be turned on at any time during
the ride. During the ride, the passenger can be updated on the current
fare and then once they've reached their destination, the interface will
allow them
to pay using a credit card. Some of the features that they hope to
incorporate in the future include being able to tap the screen and learn
your current
location and have the interface be available in other languages.
CMT is in charge of about half of the cabs in New York, and by May,
1,500 of their cabs will have the new accessible payment system. After
those are complete,
they plan to put it in the rest of their cabs in New York and then
expand to other cities like Chicago and San Francisco. It is CMT's hope
that other companies
will follow in their footsteps.
To read the full details of this exciting new technology,
visit this link:
http://gothamist.com/2012/04/17/taxi_tv_for_the_blind_about_to_star.php#photo-1
--
Have A Nice Day, From, K4NKZ Jim B.D.T.B.
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