Additional Technologies that Improve Mobility for the Transportation Disadvantaged
Assistive technologies, which are not generally considered ITS, provide greater autonomy to the transportation disadvantaged. Many of these technologies have not yet been widely deployed but show promise.
One type of assistive technology is the monitoring of cognitively disabled people. Lifeline, a research project supported by the Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities at the University of Colorado in Boulder, is a wireless, GPS-based system that provides a vital link between caregivers and people with disabilities. Lifeline allows caregivers to monitor and assist their clients from a remote location. This system is particularly helpful for those with cognitive limitations who become easily disoriented or have difficulty making decisions. By carrying a small handheld receiver, a disabled person is able to make routine trips alone while maintaining a constant link with a caregiver.
Another type of assistive technology is acoustical "wayfinders" for the visually impaired. These personal assistive devices can alert users to intersections and crosswalks as they find their way to and from transit stops. The Remote Infrared Audible Signs (RIAS) directional wayfinding system from Talking Signs, Inc. requires the installation of transmitters placed at points of interest, such as ticket counters and boarding platforms. This system is further described in the section below on additional examples of specific technologies and applications.
The airline industry currently uses countertop devices that translate speech to text for facilitating communication between customers that are hearing impaired and customer service representatives. This type of device may also have applications in the transit industry at ticket counters or information centers. A talking directory system aids persons with visual impairment. The talking directory provides voice orientation to individuals within 2 feet of the kiosk. There are also auditory pathways which are a series of speakers installed along a predetermined route that are activated by pushing a button or, automatically, by a device worn by the traveler.