Objetivo A wayfinding system for blind or partially sighted people for use within the metropolitan undergrounds of Europe.The objective of this TIDE project is to help blind or partially sighted people find their way on the metropolitan underground systems of London and Paris. A consortium involving organisations representing blind or partially sighted people, industry and universities will develop a wayfinding system that can be used by all blind or partially sighted travellers throughout Europe. The navigation system will be based on the development of existing technology to help users find specific features of the underground system such as ticket areas, barriers, stairs, escalators, platforms and other obstacles and will provide information to aid orientation. Highly contrasting tactile surfaces may be further developed and set up in designated areas.Technical Approach : Appropriate existing technology will be investigated and adopted for use within the project whenever feasible to suit the needs and requirements of the user. The system will serve to enhance the information available to the blind or partially sighted user only on personal demand. The system will consist of a series of beacons mounted at key points in each station and a receiver worn or carried by the blind or partially sighted person. Messages will be sent from the beacons to the receivers using modulated infra-red beams. The beacons will be interconnected by a discrete independent network for the prototype trials. Once developed the free-standing system will be integrated with the communication network of the metropolitan railway system. The blind or partially sighted user will receive a message or information transmitted by the beacon in an appropriate European language. The message may either be fixed in time, that is to say simple messages such as the user's location within the station and how to proceed to another part of the station, or vary with time such as the destination and time of the next train arriving on that platform. The user can decide whether to access the information available.Impact and Expected Results : The aim of the project is to raise the level of information available to the blind or partially sighted user towards that level of information available to the sighted user. This must be achieved in an unobtrusive manner acceptable to the blind or partially sighted user. Information must be given only when required and requested by the user, and in a form that does not interfere with the normal reception of audio data, which the blind or partially sighted user relies upon rather more than the sighted user.The metropolitan railway systems of London and Paris have an interest and duty to provide improved facilities for blind or partially sighted users. Possum Controls, as a leading UK manufacturer of equipment for the disabled are ideally suited to oversee the engineering design and to manufacture elements of both prototype and final design equipment. SEAL in Italy have already developed guidance systems for blind or partially sighted people that can be refined and used within the project. The University of Portsmouth along with the partners expect to continue developing guidance systems in public areas and other transport systems used by blind or partially sighted people. Programa(s) HS-TIDE 1 - Technology initiative (EEC) for disabled and elderly people (TIDE), 1993-1994 Tema(s) 3.2 - Orientation Convocatoria de propuestas Data not available Régimen de financiación CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinador University of Portsmouth Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección Anglesea Road PO1 3DJ Portsmouth Reino Unido Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos Participantes (6) Ordenar alfabéticamente Ordenar por aportación de la UE Ampliar todo Contraer todo Fédération des Aveugles et Handicapés Visuels de France Francia Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos Infovisie vsw Bélgica Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos London Transport/London Underground Ltd Reino Unido Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección London Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) Reino Unido Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección 224 Great Portland Street W1N 6AA London Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens Francia Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección 53 ter Quai des Grands Augustins 75006 Paris Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos Seal Sa Italia Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos
