Hi, Find below a questionnaire from Magdalena Sliwa, a student in UCC who is doing a master thesis on improving access to public transport for the visually impaired. Please return all filled out questionnaires to the supplied email address before 12th October. Regards, Tim Dear Sir / Madam, My name is Magdalena. I study interactive media in University College Cork (UCC). Currently I am working on my thesis and TrackExpress application. This application is mobile phone based and uses GPS. The goal of the project is to make visually impaired people more independent while using public transport. I would really appreciate if you would find a little time to answer a few questions that can be found in the below questionnaire. This would be helpful for me to analyze current issues and concerns that visually impaired people deal with while using public transport. Please feel free to answer in any form you prefer, one way would be to fill in the gaps after each question in the questionnaire and send me the document. I intend to use received answers in my master thesis. Collected data is anonymous. I would really appreciate if you could return this questionnaire to my e-mail magdalena.sliwa@xxxxxxxxx by 12th of October. I would like to thank you in advance for your help. If you have any questions, please contact me through my e-mail magdalena.sliwa@xxxxxxxxxx Best regards, Magdalena Sliwa MSc Interactive Media University College Cork Cork, Ireland Questions about public transport A. Personal Information 1. Are you? (2 options) Male_ Female_ 2. What age group are you? (5 options) 16-25_ 26-40_ 41-60_ 61-70_ Over 70_ 3. Are you? (8 options) Blind from birth_ Blind from childhood_ Blind from early adulthood_ Blind from middle or old age (after the age of 45 years)_ Visually impaired from birth_ Visually impaired from childhood_ Visually impaired from early adulthood_ Visually impaired from middle or old age (after the age of 45 years)_ 4. Are you? (4 options) Totally blind with no awareness of light_ Blind and able to distinguish light and dark_ Able to see shapes, but unable to distinguish detail or to read print_ Able to read very large print text_ 5. Do you live in? (3 options) A large city_ A medium sized town or city_ A village_ B. Questions About Public Transport 1(a) How many trips do you make on average every week? Please specify_ 1(b) What kind of public transport do you normally use? Please specify_ 1(c) In general what is the level of difficulty of your journeys? (5 options) Very easy_ Easy_ Neither easy nor difficult_ Difficult_ Very difficult_ 2(a) How often do you ask for assistance to find the correct bus stop? (5 options) Never_ Until I am familiar with the route to the bus stop_ Most of the time_ Always_ Not relevant_ 2(b) How often do you ask for assistance to identify the correct bus to get on? (4 options) Never_ Most of the time_ Always_ Not relevant_ 2(c) How easy or difficult is it for you to identify the correct bus to get on? (6 options) Very easy_ Easy_ Neither easy nor difficult_ Difficult_ Very difficult_ Not relevant_ C. Use of Mobility Aids 1. Which mobility aid do you use most frequently? Please specify _ 2(a) Do you use any mobility aid to help you find your destination and/or work out where you are on a route? (3 options) Yes_ No_ If yes, then please specify_ 2(b) How confident do you feel when using this aid that you will reach your destination without problems? (6 options) Very confident_ Confident_ Neither confident nor unconfident_ Unconfident_ Very unconfident_ I am not sure_ 3(a) Have you previously used any other mobility aids, which you no longer use? (2 options) Yes_ No_ 3(b) If yes, which one(s)? Please specify_ 3(c) What were the main reasons you no longer use this aid? Please specify_ D. Development of New Mobility Aid 1. Do you think there is a need for new and improved mobility aid? (3 options) Yes_ No_ I am not sure_ 2. Do you think that a mini version of QWERTY keyboard attached to a mobile phone would be a useful tool as an input? (3 options) Yes_ No_ I am not sure_ 3. Would you be interested in using an application where you can specify your destination and the system would inform you what bus you could take, what time it will arrive and where the nearest bus stop is? (3 options) Yes_ No_ I am not sure_ E. Additional Comments 1. Which public transport do you find best to use, please explain why. Please specify_ 2. Which public transport do you find hardest to use, please explain why. Please specify_ 3. What are your main concerns while using public transport? Please specify_ 4 Do you have any suggestions for making travel easier for blind and visually impaired people. Please specify_ ------------------------- Tim Culhane, Critical Path Ireland, 42-47 Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2. Direct line: 353-1-2415107 phone: 353-1-2415000 Tim.culhane@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx http://www.criticalpath.net Critical Path a global leader in digital communications ------------------------ ==========================================================The vicsireland mailing list To unsubscribe at any time send a mail to: vicsireland-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe", without the quotes in the subject of the message. To contact the moderator send mail to: tim.j.culhane@xxxxxxxxx For mor information on the Visually Impaired Computer Society visit: http://www.vicsireland.org