[NationalHarbor] Fwd: FW: Moovit and WeWALK to improve transit navigation for blind, partially sighted | Mass Transit | Dec. 1, 2021

Thu Dec 16 00:16:46 UTC 2021

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Vanessa <colesve at comcast.net>
Date: Tue, Dec 14, 2021 at 11:58 PM
Subject: FW: Moovit and WeWALK to improve transit navigation for blind,
partially sighted | Mass Transit | Dec. 1, 2021
To: <colesve at comcast.net>
Cc: <colesve at comcast.net>

FYI

*From:* Tino Calabia <fcalabia36 at gmail.com>
*Sent:* Wednesday, December 1, 2021 8:48 PM
*To:* Patrick Sheehan <pat.sheehan1 at verizon.net>; Doris Ray <dorisr at ecnv.org>;
Vanessa <colesve at comcast.net>; Phil Posner <pposner at comcast.net>; Denise
Rush <Drush301 at outlook.com>; Anthony Oberg <anthony.oberg at gmail.com>; Steve
Kaffen <zzask at yahoo.com>; Phillippa K. Mezile <pkmezile at rcn.com>; Elver
Ariza-Silva <elarsy at hotmail.com>; Patrick Sheehan (work) <
pat.sheehan at mail.va.gov>; Paul Semelfort <blkteachmd at aol.com>; Erin Coneys <
coneyshomesolutions at gmail.com>; Melanie Jackson <melanie.jackson at ymail.com>;
Kelley Simoneaux <kelley.simoneaux at gmail.com>; Rico Dancy <
rdancy82 at gmail.com>; Deborah Fisher <deborahmfisher at gmail.com>; Marcie
Goldstein <marcie.b.goldstein at gmail.com>; Thomas Mangrum <
thomas.mangrum39 at gmail.com>; Blake, Christiaan P. <cblake at wmata.com>; Anu
C. Sharma <acsharma at wmata.com>; Carol Lopez <cplopez at wmata.com>
*Cc:* John Federico <federico63_2000 at yahoo.com>; Barbara Milleville <
barbmill1 at verizon.net>; Paul Kelly <pek202 at me.com>; Heidi Case <
hacase60 at yahoo.com>
*Subject:* Moovit and WeWALK to improve transit navigation for blind,
partially sighted | Mass Transit | Dec. 1, 2021

*AAC members and staff:  The joint technology described below is intended
to facilitate wayfinding for blind and partially sighted users of public
buses and subway systems.  The user of the technology must be equipped with
a special smart cane, a smart phone, and a particular app for the smart
phone.   --Tino*

[image: Image removed by sender. MassTransitLogo]

*https://www.masstransitmag.com/technology/article/21248474/moovit-and-wewalk-partner-to-improve-transit-navigation-for-blind-and-partially-sighted?utm_source=MASS
NewsViews
Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CPS211130140&o_eid=5932C5562889D5Z&rdx.ident[pull]=omeda|5932C5562889D5Z*
<https://www.masstransitmag.com/technology/article/21248474/moovit-and-wewalk-partner-to-improve-transit-navigation-for-blind-and-partially-sighted?utm_source=MASS%20NewsViews%20Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CPS211130140&o_eid=5932C5562889D5Z&rdx.ident%5Bpull%5D=omeda%7C5932C5562889D5Z>

*Moovit and WeWALK partner to improve transit navigation for blind and
partially sighted*

*The companies will work to merge WeWALK’s smart cane, including voice
assistance capabilities, with Moovit’s Transit API to improve navigation
for users.*

*Mass Transit   Dec. 1, 2021*

[image: Image removed by sender. WeWALK and Moovit will bring their
technologies together in a partnership aimed at making travel safer and
more independent for passengers who are blind or partially sighted.]WeWALK
and Moovit will bring their technologies together in a partnership aimed at
making travel safer and more independent for passengers who are blind or
partially sighted.

In honor of International Persons with Disabilities Day on Dec. 3, 2021,
Moovit and WeWALK are joining forces to make public transit more accessible
around the globe.

The two companies are working together to provide WeWALK customers with the
technology needed to travel safely and independently; ultimately allowing
access to additional opportunities for employment, education, social
activities and more.

According to the World Health Organization, there are more than 253 million
people with visual impairment worldwide, many of whom rely on the white
cane to get around.  While the white cane has become a symbol of
independent mobility, it can still be challenging for its users to reach
longer distances, especially using public transit.  For instance, visually
impaired people may be uncertain that they’ve caught the right bus or can’t
read the entrance sign needed to access the subway.

*WeWALK’s smart cane warns users of obstacles through ultrasonic sensors
and a vibrating handle and when paired with the We WALK smartphone app via
Bluetooth, users can access mobility services straight from their
cane.  **[Emphasis
added.]*

Moovit, the urban mobility app which combines official information from
local transit agencies with crowdsourced information to calculate the best
routes for each journey, is enriching WeWALK’s capabilities via Moovit’s
Transit API.

“WeWALK’s mission of creating life-changing mobility tools is an intensely
collaborative process, and one involving challenges that command
word-leading partners,” explained Jean Marc Feghali, WeWALK’s Head of
Research and Development.  “A prominent example is the delivery of
efficient, usable and reliable access to public transport data.  The WeWALK
team’s lived experience of visual impairment only makes this need more
apparent, a solution more critical and our promise more personal.

Moovit’s partnership with WeWALK is an extraordinary step forward to
realizing our mission, and our promise, of uncompromised visually impaired
mobility.”

According to Moovit, merging WeWALK’s smart cane with Moovit’s Transit API
allows user to:

   - *Identify and navigate to bus stops more easily and ensure they are at
   the correct station;*

   - *Access real-time arrival information to know exactly when the bus or
   train is arriving;*

   - *Get Live Directions for accessible step-by-step guidance for the
   entire journey, including multimodal routes;*

   - *Receive audio and text Get Off Alerts to ensure boarding and
   alighting at the right stop and*

   - *Obtain Service Alerts to avoid disruptions on usual lines and
   proactively plan the journey ahead.  **[Emphasis added.]*

“We are delighted to work with WeWALK, an impressive company that shares
our vision of making the world a more accessible and equitable place,” said
Yovav Meydad, Moovit’s chief growth and marketing officer.

“While blind and partially sighted people have more independence than ever
before, getting around via public transit can still be daunting and
overwhelming.  Through our partnership, we aim to instill more reassurance
in people by breaking down some of these mobility barriers, empowering them
to access more opportunities available to them.”

[image: Image removed by sender. Moovit Logo On White]
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nationalharbor_nfbnet.org/attachments/20211215/d6617562/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: ~WRD1954.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 823 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nationalharbor_nfbnet.org/attachments/20211215/d6617562/attachment.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 2087 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nationalharbor_nfbnet.org/attachments/20211215/d6617562/attachment-0001.jpg>