<div dir="ltr"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">---------- Forwarded message ---------<br>From: <strong class="gmail_sendername" dir="auto">Vanessa</strong> <span dir="auto"><<a href="mailto:colesve@comcast.net">colesve@comcast.net</a>></span><br>Date: Tue, Dec 14, 2021 at 11:58 PM<br>Subject: FW: Moovit and WeWALK to improve transit navigation for blind, partially sighted | Mass Transit | Dec. 1, 2021<br>To:  <<a href="mailto:colesve@comcast.net">colesve@comcast.net</a>><br>Cc:  <<a href="mailto:colesve@comcast.net">colesve@comcast.net</a>><br></div><br><br><div lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="purple" style="word-wrap:break-word"><div class="m_-4952181300135804202WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal">FYI<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><div style="border:none;border-top:solid #e1e1e1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in"><p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> Tino Calabia <<a href="mailto:fcalabia36@gmail.com" target="_blank">fcalabia36@gmail.com</a>> <br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, December 1, 2021 8:48 PM<br><b>To:</b> Patrick Sheehan <<a href="mailto:pat.sheehan1@verizon.net" target="_blank">pat.sheehan1@verizon.net</a>>; Doris Ray <<a href="mailto:dorisr@ecnv.org" target="_blank">dorisr@ecnv.org</a>>; Vanessa <<a href="mailto:colesve@comcast.net" target="_blank">colesve@comcast.net</a>>; Phil Posner <<a href="mailto:pposner@comcast.net" target="_blank">pposner@comcast.net</a>>; Denise Rush <<a href="mailto:Drush301@outlook.com" target="_blank">Drush301@outlook.com</a>>; Anthony Oberg <<a href="mailto:anthony.oberg@gmail.com" target="_blank">anthony.oberg@gmail.com</a>>; Steve Kaffen <<a href="mailto:zzask@yahoo.com" target="_blank">zzask@yahoo.com</a>>; Phillippa K. Mezile <<a href="mailto:pkmezile@rcn.com" target="_blank">pkmezile@rcn.com</a>>; Elver Ariza-Silva <<a href="mailto:elarsy@hotmail.com" target="_blank">elarsy@hotmail.com</a>>; Patrick Sheehan (work) <<a href="mailto:pat.sheehan@mail.va.gov" target="_blank">pat.sheehan@mail.va.gov</a>>; Paul Semelfort <<a href="mailto:blkteachmd@aol.com" target="_blank">blkteachmd@aol.com</a>>; Erin Coneys <<a href="mailto:coneyshomesolutions@gmail.com" target="_blank">coneyshomesolutions@gmail.com</a>>; Melanie Jackson <<a href="mailto:melanie.jackson@ymail.com" target="_blank">melanie.jackson@ymail.com</a>>; Kelley Simoneaux <<a href="mailto:kelley.simoneaux@gmail.com" target="_blank">kelley.simoneaux@gmail.com</a>>; Rico Dancy <<a href="mailto:rdancy82@gmail.com" target="_blank">rdancy82@gmail.com</a>>; Deborah Fisher <<a href="mailto:deborahmfisher@gmail.com" target="_blank">deborahmfisher@gmail.com</a>>; Marcie Goldstein <<a href="mailto:marcie.b.goldstein@gmail.com" target="_blank">marcie.b.goldstein@gmail.com</a>>; Thomas Mangrum <<a href="mailto:thomas.mangrum39@gmail.com" target="_blank">thomas.mangrum39@gmail.com</a>>; Blake, Christiaan P. <<a href="mailto:cblake@wmata.com" target="_blank">cblake@wmata.com</a>>; Anu C. Sharma <<a href="mailto:acsharma@wmata.com" target="_blank">acsharma@wmata.com</a>>; Carol Lopez <<a href="mailto:cplopez@wmata.com" target="_blank">cplopez@wmata.com</a>><br><b>Cc:</b> John Federico <<a href="mailto:federico63_2000@yahoo.com" target="_blank">federico63_2000@yahoo.com</a>>; Barbara Milleville <<a href="mailto:barbmill1@verizon.net" target="_blank">barbmill1@verizon.net</a>>; Paul Kelly <<a href="mailto:pek202@me.com" target="_blank">pek202@me.com</a>>; Heidi Case <<a href="mailto:hacase60@yahoo.com" target="_blank">hacase60@yahoo.com</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> Moovit and WeWALK to improve transit navigation for blind, partially sighted | Mass Transit | Dec. 1, 2021<u></u><u></u></p></div><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:blue">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</span></i></b><u></u><u></u></p></div><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><br><span style="border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><img width="100" height="100" style="width:1.0416in;height:1.0416in" id="m_-4952181300135804202Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:17dc0985020b9cc8c51" alt="Image removed by sender. MassTransitLogo"></span><u></u><u></u></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;background:white"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><blockquote style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt;text-align:start;padding:inherit;margin:inherit"><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="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" target="_blank"><br><b><span style="color:#0b5394">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</span></b></a></span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;background:white"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;background:white"><b><span style="font-size:27.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black">Moovit and WeWALK partner to improve transit navigation for blind and partially sighted</span></b><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;background:white"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;background:white"><b><span style="font-size:19.5pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black">The companies will work to merge WeWALK’s smart cane, including voice assistance capabilities, with Moovit’s Transit API to improve navigation for users.</span></b><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;background:white"><span style="font-size:19.5pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;background:white"><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black">Mass Transit   Dec. 1, 2021</span></b><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;background:white"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><div style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt;text-align:start;box-sizing:border-box;display:table;overflow:hidden"><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><img border="0" width="100" height="100" style="width:1.0416in;height:1.0416in" id="m_-4952181300135804202Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:17dc0985020b9cc8c51" alt="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."></span><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black">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.<u></u><u></u></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><u></u> <u></u></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black">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.</span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black">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.</span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black">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.</span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p></div></div></div><blockquote style="margin-left:30.0pt;margin-right:0in"><div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><i><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:blue">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.  </span></i></b><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black">[Emphasis added.]</span></b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p></div></div></div></blockquote><div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black">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.</span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black">“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.</span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black">Moovit’s partnership with WeWALK is an extraordinary step forward to realizing our mission, and our promise, of uncompromised visually impaired mobility.”</span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black">According to Moovit, merging WeWALK’s smart cane with Moovit’s Transit API allows user to:</span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p></div><div><p style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#0433ff"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#0433ff;background:white;font-stretch:normal"><b><i><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">Identify and navigate to bus stops more easily and ensure they are at the correct station;</span></i></b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u><u></u></span></li></ul><ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#0433ff;background:white;font-stretch:normal"><b><i><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">Access real-time arrival information to know exactly when the bus or train is arriving;</span></i></b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u><u></u></span></li></ul><ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#0433ff;background:white;font-stretch:normal"><b><i><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">Get Live Directions for accessible step-by-step guidance for the entire journey, including multimodal routes;</span></i></b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u><u></u></span></li></ul><ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#0433ff;background:white;font-stretch:normal"><b><i><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">Receive audio and text Get Off Alerts to ensure boarding and alighting at the right stop and</span></i></b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u><u></u></span></li></ul><ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="background:white;font-stretch:normal"><b><i><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#0433ff">Obtain Service Alerts to avoid disruptions on usual lines and proactively plan the journey ahead.  </span></i></b><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black">[Emphasis added.]</span></b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u><u></u></span></li></ul></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black">“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.</span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black">“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.”</span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;background:white"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><img border="0" width="412" height="229" style="width:4.2916in;height:2.3833in" id="m_-4952181300135804202Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:17dc09850214ce8e92" alt="Image removed by sender. Moovit Logo On White"></span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div>