Re: [AI] OnBoard, a device to help visually impaired persons board buses
surely its great, however if possible, one should think some app so we don't need to have one more device. At 02:10 AM 4/17/2015, you wrote: OnBoard: Bus Identification Device, Pilot Trials on BEST Mumbai, February April 2015 Device to help visually impaired persons board buses We invite you for a demonstration of OnBoard -- a bus identification device in the presence of Dr Jagdish Patil, General Manager, BEST, and other dignitaries Venue: Electric House (BEST headquarters), Near Regal Cinema, Colaba, Mumbai (Conference Room, 1st Floor). Entry from Gate Number 9.Date: April 17, 2015Time 11 am to 12 noon OnBoard is globally a first-of-its-kind device developed by ASSISTECH Group, IIT Delhi that facilitates boarding of public buses by visually impaired persons. The device helps users to not only identify the route number but also to locate the door of the bus, thus addressing their needs comprehensively. The Device The device works on radio frequency and consists of a very affordable, small user module and a bus module with a speaker fitted next to the front door of the bus. The system has a very simple user interface. Partners Apart from BEST, both Xaviers Resource Centre for the Visually Challenged (XRCVC), Mumbai and Mumbai First have played a key role, taking the initiative to organize the trials in Mumbai. XRCVC has not only organized the users including their training and feedback but also provided all logistical support to the team from IIT Delhi to conduct the trials. XRCVC has undertaken this initiative as part of Project Access along with Sightsavers. Mumbai First has helped in setting up meetings with key BEST officials to ensure a seamless coordination of the operation. Background The device was first tested with a small number of users on cluster buses operated by DIMTS in Delhi. The Mumbai trials was the first instance when a full scale real life unsupervised testing of the system has been undertaken. The trials have been conducted for more than two months starting 31st Jan 2015 and concluding on 8th April 2015. During this period two phases of testing were undertaken. The first phase saw OnBoard units fixed on 16 buses on route numbers 121 and 134 which led to over 100 supervised boardings by visually impaired persons. The second full scale phase of the trials saw the units fixed on all of the 24 BEST buses covering route numbers 121 and 134 operated from BEST Backbay depot. Nearly 20 visually impaired users conducted nearly 350 unsupervised boardings during this phase, establishing the utility of the device in real settings. The pilot trials of the project were largely funded by Department of Science and Technology (DST) under their TIDE (Technology Interventions for the Disabled and Elderly) scheme. The balance funding was routed through the Project Access an XRCVC-Sightsavers Initiative. The project now aims at approaching both government as well as corporate houses for funding the next round of trials. Preliminary Trial Results The initial trends from the Mumbai trials have reflected the following: § Users have shown an overall increased independence in boarding public transport buses. § As a result of independence in travel, users have exhibited great levels of satisfaction about the experience and are looking forward to speedy real time deployment of the system, as there has been a near unanimous agreement on the need and use of such a system for independent travel by the blind and low vision commuters. § Through the trials, there has been increased awareness and sensitization of the BEST drivers and conductors on the said routes as also the Backbay depot staff, who have also shown great satisfaction with the system and keenness on the BEST being able to take this up to facilitate independence for the blind and low vision commuters. § The trials have reflected very good quality feedback both in terms of the users as also BEST staff on real life modifications necessary in the device that will go a long way in improving the system for the next phase. § Along with testing for this system which helps in independent boarding, two clear needs have been highlighted in a lot of user feedback to make the entire travel experience holistically independent and accessible. i. The users ability to independently identify the bus stop on the ground when reaching the stop for boarding and access to data of which routes come on the bus stop. ii. The need to make the deboarding experience accessible (in terms of the user being able to identify the approaching bus stops. Follow Up on Trials The report based on the analysis of the trial data is expected to be ready by July 2015. This period would also be used to improve the design by incorporating the feedback obtained in these trials. The logical next step would be to scale up the trials with a larger number of buses as well as users. Here is some feedback from users Vivekan
Re: [AI] OnBoard, a device to help visually impaired persons board buses
On 17/04/2015, Xavier's Resource Centre for the Visuall St. Xavier's College wrote: > OnBoard: > Bus Identification Device, Pilot Trials on BEST Mumbai, February – April > 2015 > > > > Device to > help visually impaired persons board buses > > > We invite you for a demonstration of OnBoard -- a bus identification device > in the presence of Dr Jagdish Patil, General Manager, BEST, and other > dignitaries > Venue: Electric House (BEST headquarters), Near Regal Cinema, Colaba, Mumbai > (Conference Room, 1st Floor). Entry from Gate Number 9.Date: April 17, > 2015Time 11 am to 12 noon > OnBoard is globally a > first-of-its-kind device developed by ASSISTECH Group, IIT Delhi that > facilitates boarding of public buses by visually impaired persons. The > device > helps users to not only identify the route number but also to locate the > door > of the bus, thus addressing their needs comprehensively. > > > > The Device > > > The device works on radio frequency > and consists of a very affordable, small user module and a bus module with > a > speaker fitted next to the front door of the bus. The system has a very > simple > user interface. > > > > Partners > > > Apart from BEST, both Xavier’s > Resource Centre for the Visually Challenged (XRCVC), Mumbai and Mumbai > First > have played a key role, taking the initiative to organize the trials in > Mumbai. > XRCVC has not only organized the users including their training and > feedback > but also provided all logistical support to the team from IIT Delhi to > conduct > the trials. XRCVC has undertaken this initiative as part of Project Access > along with Sightsavers. Mumbai First has helped in setting up meetings with > key > BEST officials to ensure a seamless coordination of the operation. > > > > Background > > > The device was first tested with a > small number of users on cluster buses operated by DIMTS in Delhi. The > Mumbai > trials was the first instance when a full scale real life unsupervised > testing > of the system has been undertaken. The trials have been conducted for more > than > two months starting 31st Jan 2015 and concluding on 8th > April 2015. During this period two phases of testing were undertaken. The > first > phase saw OnBoard units fixed on 16 buses on route numbers 121 and 134 > which > led to over 100 supervised boardings by visually impaired persons. > > > > The second full scale phase of the > trials saw the units fixed on all of the 24 BEST buses covering route > numbers > 121 and 134 operated from BEST Backbay depot. Nearly 20 visually impaired > users > conducted nearly 350 unsupervised boardings during this phase, establishing > the > utility of the device in real settings. The pilot trials of the project > were > largely funded by Department of Science and Technology (DST) under their > TIDE > (Technology Interventions for the Disabled and Elderly) scheme. The balance > funding was routed through the Project Access – an XRCVC-Sightsavers > Initiative. The project now aims at approaching both government as well as > corporate houses for funding the next round of trials. > > > > Preliminary > Trial Results > > > The initial trends from the Mumbai > trials have reflected the following: > > § Users have shown an overall > increased independence in boarding public transport buses. > > § As a result of independence in > travel, users have exhibited great levels of satisfaction about the > experience > and are looking forward to speedy real time deployment of the system, as > there > has been a near unanimous agreement on the need and use of such a system > for > independent travel by the blind and low vision commuters. > > § Through the trials, there has been > increased awareness and sensitization of the BEST drivers and conductors on > the > said routes as also the Backbay depot staff, who have also shown great > satisfaction with the system and keenness on the BEST being able to take > this > up to facilitate independence for the blind and low vision commuters. > > § The trials have reflected very good > quality feedback both in terms of the users as also BEST staff on real life > modifications necessary in the device that will go a long way in improving > the > system for the next phase. > > § Along with testing for this system > which helps in independent boarding, two clear needs have been highlighted > in a > lot of user feedback to make the entire travel experience holistically > independent and accessible. > > > i. > The > user’s ability to independently identify the bus stop on the ground when > reaching the stop for boarding and access to data of which routes come on > the > bus stop. > > > ii. > The > need to make the deboarding experience accessible (in terms of the user > being > able to identify the approaching bus stops. > > > > Follow > Up on Trials > > > The report based on the analysis of > the trial data is expected to be ready by July 2015. This period would also > be used to > improve the design by incorpor
[AI] OnBoard, a device to help visually impaired persons board buses
OnBoard: Bus Identification Device, Pilot Trials on BEST Mumbai, February – April 2015 Device to help visually impaired persons board buses We invite you for a demonstration of OnBoard -- a bus identification device in the presence of Dr Jagdish Patil, General Manager, BEST, and other dignitaries Venue: Electric House (BEST headquarters), Near Regal Cinema, Colaba, Mumbai (Conference Room, 1st Floor). Entry from Gate Number 9.Date: April 17, 2015Time 11 am to 12 noon OnBoard is globally a first-of-its-kind device developed by ASSISTECH Group, IIT Delhi that facilitates boarding of public buses by visually impaired persons. The device helps users to not only identify the route number but also to locate the door of the bus, thus addressing their needs comprehensively. The Device The device works on radio frequency and consists of a very affordable, small user module and a bus module with a speaker fitted next to the front door of the bus. The system has a very simple user interface. Partners Apart from BEST, both Xavier’s Resource Centre for the Visually Challenged (XRCVC), Mumbai and Mumbai First have played a key role, taking the initiative to organize the trials in Mumbai. XRCVC has not only organized the users including their training and feedback but also provided all logistical support to the team from IIT Delhi to conduct the trials. XRCVC has undertaken this initiative as part of Project Access along with Sightsavers. Mumbai First has helped in setting up meetings with key BEST officials to ensure a seamless coordination of the operation. Background The device was first tested with a small number of users on cluster buses operated by DIMTS in Delhi. The Mumbai trials was the first instance when a full scale real life unsupervised testing of the system has been undertaken. The trials have been conducted for more than two months starting 31st Jan 2015 and concluding on 8th April 2015. During this period two phases of testing were undertaken. The first phase saw OnBoard units fixed on 16 buses on route numbers 121 and 134 which led to over 100 supervised boardings by visually impaired persons. The second full scale phase of the trials saw the units fixed on all of the 24 BEST buses covering route numbers 121 and 134 operated from BEST Backbay depot. Nearly 20 visually impaired users conducted nearly 350 unsupervised boardings during this phase, establishing the utility of the device in real settings. The pilot trials of the project were largely funded by Department of Science and Technology (DST) under their TIDE (Technology Interventions for the Disabled and Elderly) scheme. The balance funding was routed through the Project Access – an XRCVC-Sightsavers Initiative. The project now aims at approaching both government as well as corporate houses for funding the next round of trials. Preliminary Trial Results The initial trends from the Mumbai trials have reflected the following: § Users have shown an overall increased independence in boarding public transport buses. § As a result of independence in travel, users have exhibited great levels of satisfaction about the experience and are looking forward to speedy real time deployment of the system, as there has been a near unanimous agreement on the need and use of such a system for independent travel by the blind and low vision commuters. § Through the trials, there has been increased awareness and sensitization of the BEST drivers and conductors on the said routes as also the Backbay depot staff, who have also shown great satisfaction with the system and keenness on the BEST being able to take this up to facilitate independence for the blind and low vision commuters. § The trials have reflected very good quality feedback both in terms of the users as also BEST staff on real life modifications necessary in the device that will go a long way in improving the system for the next phase. § Along with testing for this system which helps in independent boarding, two clear needs have been highlighted in a lot of user feedback to make the entire travel experience holistically independent and accessible. i. The user’s ability to independently identify the bus stop on the ground when reaching the stop for boarding and access to data of which routes come on the bus stop. ii. The need to make the deboarding experience accessible (in terms of the user being able to identify the approaching bus stops. Follow Up on Trials The report based on the analysis of the trial data is expected to be ready by July 2015. This period would also be used to improve the design by incorporating the feedback obtained in these trials. The logical next step would be to scale up the trials with a larger number of buses as well as users. Here is some feedback from users Vivekanand Manthalkar, an aviation sector employee from Navi Mumbai, said, “H
