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Assistive Mobile Software for Public Transportation

Authors:
João Silva
Catarina Silva
Luis Marcelino
Rui Ferreira
António Pereira

Keywords: Assistive software, mobility, accessibility, public transportation, Android

Abstract:
The need of mobility on public transport for persons with visual impairment is mandatory. While traveling on a public transport, the simple ability to know the current location is almost impossible for such persons. To overcome this hurdle, we developed an assistive application that can alert its user to the proximity of all public transportation stops, giving emphasis to the chosen final stop. The application is adjustable to any transportation system and is particularly relevant to use in public transports that do not have any audio system available. The developed prototype runs on an Android OS device equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS). To ensure the highest possible level of reliability and to make it predictable to users, the application’s architecture is free of as much dependencies as possible. Therefore, only GPS, or other localization mechanism, is required. The interface was designed to be suitable not only for talkback (Android’s inbuilt screen-reader) aimed at blind users, but also for people with low vision that can still use their sight to check the screen. Thus, it was meant to be graphically simple and unobtrusive. It was tested by visual impaired persons leading to the conclusion that it demonstrates an existing need, and opens a new perspective in public transportation’s accessibility.

Pages: 309 to 313

Copyright: Copyright (c) IARIA, 2011

Publication date: November 20, 2011

Published in: conference

ISSN: 2308-4278

ISBN: 978-1-61208-171-7

Location: Lisbon, Portugal

Dates: from November 20, 2011 to November 25, 2011