After the idea concept of an Accessible and Intelligent Bus Stop for Visually Impaired People, there was the need to conduct an interview with the target user aiming to understand the real difficulties encountered in the public transportation systems and how the idea of a implemented project would help them.
For the interview, Douglas Toledo chose the CIAPD (Interdisciplinary Center of Attention to People with Disabilities), located at PUC-Campinas (Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas) that aims to provide integrated and innovative actions of knowledge production and education, social inclusion of people with disabilities.
CIAPD invited to interview the young Mr. Leonardo Campos, 17, who has impaired vision from birth. Follow the complete interview:
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Douglas: Good afternoon Leonardo, how are you?
Leonardo: Good afternoon, Douglas!
Douglas: First of all I would like to thank the CIAPD for helping me in this interview conduct. It was prepared to present you an idea of what would be an Accessible and Intelligent Bus Stop for Visually Impaired People to promote their social accessibility and inclusion. I’m developing a prototype of this idea as my therm paper and I would like your opinion.
Douglas: Leonardo, to start… Do you use the public transportation? What are the difficulties for you?
Leonardo: Yes, I do, often. I always need a companion to help me considering that the bus stops doesn’t have any accessibility, Braille information, nothing to help us to identify the buses, many still do not even have the tactile floor.
Douglas: When these difficulties happen, someone help you? What are your attitudes when someone offers you a help?
Leonardo: I’m always with a companion because I always know I’ll have difficulties, considering the lack of accessibility, but inside the buses, people always sensitize and offer me a place to sit.
Douglas: The project idea:
1. The user arrives at bus stop and selects one bus lines after read the Braille’s transcripts;
2. The panel notify the selected bus line through voice messages;
3. A visual indicator on the top of bus stop indicates an user’s presence;
4. A sign on the bus stop indicates the desired bus lines to the drivers;
5. With the desired bus line approach, the driver will receive a sound and visual notification indicating the user’s embark needs;
6. At the same time, the user receives a voice message informing the bus arrival and an embark request;
7. The user confirms the embark approaching his ID card on the reader located in bus entrance.
Leonardo, What did you think of the idea?
Leonardo: Wow, that’s cool, I found a great idea!
Douglas: Do you think the project implementation would facilitate and give autonomy to you and others visually impaired to use the public transportation? Do you have improvements proposals for the final project implementation?
Leonardo: The project implementation will help a lot, at this time I don’t know what could be added to your idea, which sounds great! But, it is very important that people be aware and sensitive to these changes.
Douglas: Currently, all the features that I present you were initially tested and a prototype is in the final assembly stages. Once finished, I would like to demonstrate for you and the CIAPD. Is it OK for you? If so, I’ll inform the CIAPD the estimated demonstration date.
Leonardo: Yes, I would like!
Douglas: I would like to thank you and CIAPD for the interview.
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The interview was essential for the project requirements validation. For more information about the CIAPD – Interdisciplinary Center of Attention to People with Disabilities and the projects undertaken by the institution following the link: https://www.puc-campinas.edu.br/ciapd