LG Uplus announced on the 16th that it successfully completed the public transportation device demonstration project specialized for visually impaired individuals, conducted under the auspices of Hyundai Motor and Kia.
This project began when "Day-Easy technology development for improving mobility accessibility for visually impaired individuals" received the grand award at the Hyundai Motor and Kia 2023 Idea Festival. LG Uplus has been awarded this task and is currently progressing with it. Day-Easy refers to technology that supports safe and convenient bus boarding by linking the white cane used by visually impaired individuals when walking with a smartphone.
The number of visually impaired individuals nationwide is about 250,000. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's research on "the actual conditions of transportation accessibility for vulnerable groups" (2021), the bus usage rate among visually impaired individuals is 34.6%, which is lower than that of other vulnerable groups. It has been shown that unclear audio guidance provided on buses and the difficulty in identifying which bus to board when multiple buses arrive at a stop are significant barriers. It is also challenging to find the bus boarding location or communicate with drivers.
LG Uplus and Hyundai Motor and Kia have developed a bus boarding solution to address these transportation inconveniences for visually impaired individuals. This solution operates based on a visually impaired specialized app that is linked to a Bus Information System (BIS), which collects real-time information about the bus.
Once this solution is applied, visually impaired individuals can reserve a ride on the bus they plan to board via the app. They will receive simultaneous audio guidance and vibrations from their white cane indicating the real-time location of the approaching bus. The intensity of the vibrations can help determine the position, stopping order, and relative distance of the bus they intend to board.
A stop bell feature will also be supported. Drivers can confirm whether visually impaired individuals are boarding or alighting at each stop using a Day-Easy notification device attached to the driver's seat. Both sides plan to review demonstration methods that link with local government systems in the future.
Park Jun-seok, head of the mobility business at LG Uplus, said, "As a major telecommunications company, LG Uplus has been engaged in activities to create a safe and convenient daily life for all citizens," and "Through challenges and leaps via technology, we will contribute to creating a bright world where vulnerable members of society, including the visually impaired, can have valuable everyday lives."