Blind Information System: Of Speeking Buses

1.2.2006

Everything started with new trams and buses six years ago. They were supposed to be part of the public traffic in Dresden. Unfortunately, the driver sat three metres away from the entrance door which was too far to quickly ask something whilst passing by. This especially concerned blind and visually handicapped people. The solution: the Blind Information System BLIS.

The blind and visually handicapped association in Dresden realised this problem and they contacted the public transportation services of Dresden (DVB). According to the motto:"Public traffic for everyone" they forced a solution to this communication problem. The solution was found in Prague. "Speeking buses" have been on the road in the czech city for years announcing destination and line of buses through loud speakers attached to the public transport vehicles. Meanwhile 110 trams and 56 buses are equipped with this BLIS in Dresden.

BLIS users must pay 90 Euro for a transmitter. In turn, they receive a black box which has the size of a matchbox including three buttons. With the first button one sends an infrared-signal to an incoming tram. That only works with a distance of a maximum of thirty meters. After two seconds, a female voice through the outside loud speaker attached to the bus informs about line-number and destination. If the right tram comes in, the second button needs to be pressed. Then a red light blimks in the driver's cabine and the light is boosted with a buzz. Now the driver knows that a visually handicapped passenger wants to get on or off the tram. The third button is only working inside the bus or the tram: If the BLIS user missed the announcement on the next stop, the user can get a repetition by pushing that button.

Gerold Schönfelder, help resources consultant of the blind and visually handicapped association Saxony, tested the system. "The system has its good effects", said Schönfelder "especially with delayed buses and trams or when they have changed routes without notice". That way blind and visually handicapped people get the information without having to ask a person.

But the human factor sometimes still is a problem in this well developed system. "In order to make the second button more efficient, I wished that the driver opened the door automatically when noticing the signal”, suggested Gerold Schönfelder. The sound of the opening door gives visually impaired people more orientation. So far they must search the entrance by touching the tram. But this deficit should be bypassed within future trainings.

The transmitters have been sold at the federal state help department in Dresden for two months. That is why there are only few people with BLIS around in Dresden and the announcements through the outside loud speakers are still quite seldom. "The waiting passengers respond to the voice just like they did when they heard the first acustic traffic lights", remembered Gerold Schönfelder. Therefore, people are still puzzled by this voice from nowhere.

REHACARE.de