[Njtechdiv] World’s Most Accessible, Self-Driving Vehicle.

[Mario Brusco]

Introducing Olli	: The 
https://coolblindtech.com/introducing-olli-the-worlds-most-accessible-self-driving-vehicle/

by James Oates On January 12, 2017

Almost everyone is involved in producing self-driving cars, but did you 
know that most of them are not accessible? The funny thing

is; these companies are marketing autonomous cars as a life changer for 
people with disabilities without making them accessible.

Olli could be a game changer for people with disabilities who are 
expecting self-driving cars to be a part of their lives. Checkout

this video, and read the press release from CES 2017.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQU6bGVRRWE&feature=youtu.be

Las Vegas, NV – January 6, 2017

Today the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)™ Foundation announced an 
alliance with IBM and Local Motors to help create

the world’s most accessible, self-driving vehicle. The CTA Foundation, a 
public foundation with the mission to link seniors and

people with disabilities with technologies to enhance their lives, 
announced the innovative partnership at CES® 2017 — the global

stage for innovation, owned and produced by CTA — running Jan. 5-8 in 
Las Vegas, Nev.
  To begin identifying new innovations in accessible transportation, the 
CTA Foundation, IBM, and Local Motors will launch a series

of workshops and hackathons throughout 2017 to reach innovators of all 
ages, backgrounds, and abilities. The Local Motors Olli —

the first self-driving cognitive vehicle, already equipped with some of 
the world’s most advanced vehicle technology — will serve as

the foundation of the initiative. Built to include IBM Watson Internet 
of Things for automotive, the Olli improves the passenger

experience and allows for natural interaction with the vehicle.
“Our goal is to explore new ways to improve access to transportation and 
personalize the experience to each person’s unique

abilities,” said Ruoyi Zhou, director of accessibility research, IBM. 
“IBM has been committed to developing accessibility technology

solutions to help people with disabilities for over 100 years. And by 
working with the CTA Foundation and Local Motors, we can

further advance the role technology plays in transportation so everyone 
can stay more connected with friends, family and their

community.” By calling on students and seasoned developers to apply the 
advanced cognitive computing capabilities of IBM

Watson, Local Motors can create seamless interactions between the 
vehicle and passengers in an adaptive and immersive

environment. Examples of how the Olli may be more accessible include:

• Understanding sign language and communicating back via text
• Adapting light and videos for users with photosensitive epilepsy
• Simplifying the language for those with cognitive disabilities
• Using Image recognition to describe what is outside of the vehicle for 
blind or visually impaired passengers “Through the power of cognitive 
computing, the Internet of Things (IoT) and accessibility technology, 
this initiative will significantly improve the lives of persons with 
disabilities and the growing aging population,” said Stephen Ewell, 
executive director of the CTA Foundation. “CTA’s

member companies are already using connected mobile devices, sensors and 
cognitive systems to change our lives for the better,

whether that means an improvement to our everyday lives or a 
game-changing disruptive innovation. And we invite others in the

tech industry to join us in helping ensure these critical accessibility 
and transportation solutions come to life.”
This effort represents an extension of IBM’s recent collaboration with 
the CTA Foundation which produced the Outthink Aging

study. The research revealed that meeting the needs of a growing aging 
population will require new technologies, partnerships,

ideas and business models. Today, one billion people experience some 
form of disability — and by 2050, people aged 60 and older

will account for 22 percent of the global population. But better access 
to transportation helps improve independence and the

quality of life for seniors and people who suffer from cognitive, 
vision, memory or physical challenges.