Amsterdam: Creation of inclusive broadcasting for hearing-impaired in public transport

Background

Information about changes, traffic interruptions or emergencies on public transport is often broadcast. Deaf and hearing impaired cannot hear this so they do not know what is going on. As a result, they cannot follow directions and can feel excluded and lost. Current broadcasting information is far from available in written text, which is essential for hearing-impaired people to follow information. For deaf people, sign language is their mother tongue, which is why Dutch and written text is not understandable for everyone.

Challenge 

The Public Transport Company (GVB) in Amsterdam is looking for a technological solution that makes broadcast information in public transport accessible to deaf and hearing impaired. The GVB is looking for an application, outside existing communication tools of the GVB, that allows deaf and hearing impaired to access up-to-date information. This is a first step in translating broadcasted information into text and sign language in a separate tool. It will make public transport more inclusive and improve the ability of deaf and hearing impaired to use public transport. The ambition is to use this challenge to gather insights for a future solution that is generically applicable in public transport.

The Public Transport Company hosts one pilot. Co-creation is considered as a crucial factor in order to have a successful pilot. The applicant needs to organise and take part in co-creation sessions in Amsterdam on the location and in the language of the target group. A sign language interpreter has been arranged for this pilot. 

Published on 28 September, 2023.