On 17/04/2015, Xavier's Resource Centre for the Visuall St. Xavier's College <[email protected]> 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 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, “Hats off to everybody involved. This would make > life > much easier while commuting.” > > Trupti Vazirani, a banking professional from Kandivali, Mumbai, said, > “This device has added advantages. Conductors hear the device and come right > to the front of the bus to make sure > we have bought our tickets. The driver too waits for us to board the > buses.” > > Deepak Kumar Jaiswal, a student of St Xavier’s > College, Mumbai, said, “It is a wonderful initiative and will definitely > bring a great > change in our lives.” > > Ekinath Khedekar, a management professional from Kopar Khairane, Navi > Mumbai,said, “I felt the sense of independence and enjoyed waiting at the > bus stop for > a change.” > > > And here's what the developers and partners said about the project > Prof. M. Balakrishnan, Principal Investigator and Mentor, ASSISTECH, IIT > Delhi: It was due to the initiative of Mumbai First, efforts of XRCVC in > user engagement, the facilitation provided by BEST and sponsorship provided > by DST under their TIDE program, that has made this pilot trial possible. > Nearly 350 unsupervised boardings by around 20 users over the last two > months have given us immense confidence as well as feedback to take the > project forward. We do hope this partnership would continue till we are able > to successfully meet this key mobility challenge of visually impaired.Dr. > Sam Taraporevala, Director, XRCVC: The XRCVC is committed to promoting > independent living for the visually challenged. This collaborative report we > hope will actively contribute towards ensuring that the commuting experience > will soon become pleasanter for the visually challenged.Dr. Jagdish Patil, > General Manager, BEST: The BEST is committed for safe and comfortable travel > experience to all our commuters. We are very happy to collaborate with > ASSISTECH Group (IIT Delhi), Xavier’s Resource Centre for the Visually > Challenged (XRCVC) and Mumbai First to promote ‘On board’, a first-of-its > kind device that facilitates boarding of public buses by Visually Impaired > persons.Shishir Joshi, CEO, Mumbai First: Convenience of travel, or the lack > of it, is arguably the single largest contributor to the stress levels of > the Mumbai commuter. It is important that every segment should deservedly > have ease of commute. At Mumbai First, we are glad we are contributing in > our way to make Mumbai a better place for its citizens to live and travel > better. > Ketan Kothari, Manager (Advocacy) Sightsavers India: This trial will go a > long way in ensuring accessibility of the most trusted road public transport > system in the city of Mumbai. > > For further information, please contact: > > > > Dr. Sam Taraporevala > > XRCVC, St. Xavier’s College, > > 5, Mahapalika Marg, Mumbai- 400001 > > Tel : 022-22623298/22626329/ > 9967028769 > > Email: [email protected] Website: www.xrcvc.org > > > > Prof. M. Balakrishnan, > > Professor, Department of Computer Science & Engineering, > > Room no. 503, 4th floor, Block II A, Department of > Computer Science and Engineering,Bharti School of IT, IIT Delhi, Indian > Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, Delhi 110016 > > Tel: 011 -2659 6080 > > Email: [email protected] Website: > http://assistech.iitd.ernet.in/index.php > > > Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of > mobile phones / Tabs on: > http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > > To unsubscribe send a message to > [email protected] > with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please > visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > Disclaimer: > 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the > person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; > > 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails > sent through this mailing list.. > really very glad to read about this initiative and thanks a lot for each and everybody who are involve in this project. we the blind commuters will be much independent and more confident while travelling in busses. once again, i thank from the bottom of my heart to those who are working in promoting this device that facilitates boarding of public buses by Visually Impaired.
Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of mobile phones / Tabs on: http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ To unsubscribe send a message to [email protected] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list..
