DLR trials app to help partially sighted customers navigate stations
Transport for London (TfL) and KeolisAmey Docklands, operator of the DLR, have partnered with GoMedia and The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) to trial NaviLens, an app designed to help blind or partially sighted customers navigate stations. The trial will run at DLR’s Cutty Sark, Canary Wharf, Woolwich Arsenal, and Tower Gateway stations for six months.
The app enables blind and partially sighted people to access and locate information and interact with their environment, particularly in busy areas like train stations. NaviLens’ technology has already seen successful deployments in New York Metro, Barcelona, and Los Angeles.
The technology is based on image recognition using augmented smart codes, placed along designated customer itineraries, and a smartphone app that provides voice guidance for visually impaired passengers. Once the smart codes have been scanned using the NaviLens app, users can benefit from the help of the app’s voice assistant to continue their journey, the voice assistant having told them practical information including description of a physical element, guidance indications and real-time DLR arrivals and departures.
The trial of NaviLens will be supported by audio announcements at stations, members of staff at Woolwich Arsenal DLR station and onboard passenger service agents present on all DLR trains to assist passengers. The technology could also support those hampered by language barriers, or passengers unfamiliar with London as the NaviLens app can transmit the information encapsulated in the smart codes in augmented reality, in 33 different languages.
Seb Dance, Deputy Mayor for Transport said, "Encouraging greater use of public transport is a top priority and the NaviLens app should make a real difference for partially sighted customers and help make London’s transport network accessible to all. The DLR is one of the most accessible modes of transport on our network and this new technology will go even further to help customers with access needs travel with ease."
Robin Spinks, RNIB Head of Inclusive Design, said, “Navigating train and light rail stations can be a very daunting and anxiety provoking experience for people living with blindness or partial sight.
“As someone who is registered severely sight impaired, I can struggle to navigate around train stations as the signs are often inaccessible to me. I don't want special treatment; I just want access to the same information that everyone else takes for granted.
“RNIB is delighted to be involved in this partnership, where NaviLens technology is enabling more confident, independent travel for people like me.”
Roger Matthews, Managing Director of GoMedia and Chief Commercial Officer of its parent company Icomera said: “GoMedia’s live cloud-based passenger information system will be used to deliver accurate, content-rich, location-based information to users of the Navilens app. The trial does not require the installation of any additional physical infrastructure aside from the optical smart code stickers, so it presents a fast and cost-effective accessibility win for transport infrastructure owners and operators.”
Andrew Dickinson, Service Delivery Director at KeolisAmey Docklands, said, “This trial is an exciting partnership collaboratively working to improve the customer experience for those who are partially sighted or fully blind. By embracing and building on technological developments we can build the connectivity of the Docklands area to those living around it. We will also be developing the trial to see how it can help us with other areas of customer communication and provision of service information.”