Travel assistance device: utilising global positioning system-enabled mobile phones to aid transit riders with special needs

Abstract

Recent advancements in mobile technology allow global positioning system (GPS)-enabled cell phones to provide a variety of real-time location-based services. This study reports on the design, implementation and testing of such a service, the travel assistance device (TAD), that aids transit riders with special needs in using public transportation. TAD is a program that provides the rider with customised real-time audio, visual and tactile prompts for exiting the transit vehicle by announcing 'Get ready. . .' and 'Pull the cord now!' Additionally, TAD provides alerts to riders, their caretakers and travel trainers if a rider deviates from the planned route. A website allows easy access for the creation of new trip itineraries and allows authorised personnel to monitor the rider's location in real-time from any computer. While the TAD was designed to aid transit riders with special needs to increase their level of independence and their care-takers' level of security, any rider new to a transit system can use TAD for planning and executing trips with confidence and ease.

The S-Curve of Technological Adoption: Mobile Communication Devices on Commuter Trains in the Chicago Region, 2010–2015

“…The study isolates this effect while controlling for a wide variety of neighborhood-specific variables. Following a similar theme, Barbeau et al (2010) explored how new mobile apps enhance rider experience by providing real-time information about their trips, including alerting customers when to disembark or enabling riders to signal the driver to stop. Guo et al (2015) observed 1,739 passengers and surveyed 686 to evaluate usage patterns on the bus system in Vancouver, British Columbia.…”

Experiments with a Public Transit Assistant for Blind Passengers

“…Likewise, the Bluetooth-based application described in [13] ensures that the user is informed when a bus is arriving at a stop. The Travel Assistance Device (TAD) [2] and the app described by Silva et al [15] both rely on the GPS in the user's smartphone to determine the user's position and to alert the user when the bus is approaching the desired bus stop. Unlike this previous work, our system is designed from the ground up to assist users throughout the whole travel, from the time they arrive at the initial bus stop until they reach their destination.…”

Social Moderation and Dynamic Elements in Crowdsourced Geospatial Data: A Report on Quality Assessment, Dynamic Extensions and Mobile Device Engagement in the George Mason University Geocrowdsourcing Testbed

“…The GPS Alarm Clock application ( Figure 7) is a novel application for travelers and public transit riders, similar to the accessibility application developed by Barbeau et al (2010), 41 to provide notification of proximity to a planned stop. This is targeted toward inattentive or sleeping passengers, as well as disabled travelers who need advanced warning of an approaching stop.…”