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Kelly and Tom, one of my biggest frustrations with the automated
announcers on the buses is the operators who turn them off.
-----Original Message-----
From: Visually Impaired Computer Users' Group List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kelly Pierce
Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2006 6:54 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [VICUG-L] FW: talking buses/trains, letters to transit
agencies
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tom,
I agree that the infra red technology could be very useful in
identifying
objects and signs from 30 to 100 feet away.
I should note that advocates for IR sign technology specifically list on
their website bus stop announcements as an example of how the technology
would be used on a transit system.
do the patented circuits on the receivers pertain to any particular
frequency? Might it be possible that IR systems using a particular
frequency would be the only ones where funding would be approved? this
is
not so far fetched as it might seem. As I understand it, the detectable
warning standard written into the Americans with Disabilities Act
Accessibility Guidelines just so happens to coincide with patents of the
Pathfinder tile company.
Fortunately, we have had quite a different experience with automated bus
stop announcements here in Chicago. The system is highly accurate and
is in
working order on nearly every bus. The ADA requires access equipment
and
systems to be maintained in working order. If this is not happening,
perhaps another lawsuit is needed to ensure effective implementation of
the
system.
Kelly
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Fowle" <[log in to unmask]>
To: "Kelly Pierce" <[log in to unmask]>
Cc: "Bill Crandall" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2006 1:01 PM
Subject: Re: [VICUG-L] FW: talking buses/trains, letters to transit
agencies
> Kelly,
> This list is probably not the best place for a debate on access
> technology,
> but:
> how about:
> learning the number of an approaching bus at least a hundred feet
before
> it
> arrives at the stop;
> finding ticket machines, gates, stairs, escolators in train
stationsfrom
> tens of feet away;
> Finding the stop you want, again from tens of feet away without
> having the entire world yelling at everyone from dozens of
> speakers.
>
> Here in San Francisco, we have what is claimed to be automatic stop
> announcement, it works sometimes and is often wrong and more often
> missing. Besides the annoyance of stupid rules about social conduct
being
> blabbered to all and sundry even when the automatic stop
> missannouncement doesn't work.
>
> And all of this poorly implemented announcement technology was as the
> result
> of a law suit and several local blindness agencies letting
> the transit operators install technology which does not work well.
>
> There is room for any number of technologies in our field.
>
> Remote Infrared Audible signage is NOT a patented
> technology, with the exception of some proprietary circuits
> in the receiver which are not required for successfull operation.
>
> It's just that a few people, many of them experienced blind travelers
> have made the technology work and are
> trying to get over the stubbornness of federal burocracy and those
> who have not tried it.
>
> I have no financial interest in RIAS technology or Talking Signs, I
just
> think
> it works better than anything else out there for many applications.
>
> and that'll be then end of anything on this subject from me on this
list.
>
> Tom Fowle
>
>
>
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