Strætó and Blindrafélagið signed a cooperation agreement between them on July 5th regarding the installation of NaviLens codes at all bus stops and buses in the capital area. This is a complete revolution for the blind and visually impaired in access to information about bus trips in real time, undoubtedly the biggest since an audio system was installed in the buses over 10 years ago, which specifies where the bus will stop next.
The codes will also be placed on the buses themselves and this will help the blind and visually impaired to know which bus it is and in which direction it is going without having to rely on the help of others.
Strætó will lead the project and Strætó will own and be responsible for the codes, but the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Market and the Minister of Infrastructure signed an agreement with Blindrafélagið at the beginning of the year for the joint project between the organization and Strætó on the implementation of the codes and provided a grant of ISK 2,000,000. each.
A project of this magnitude will only succeed with the joint effort of all parties involved in the operation of bus stops and buses, and everyone has offered their assistance to implement the codes.
Hlynur Þór Agnarsson, a consultant from Blindrafélagið who is involved in the project, says that the NaviLens solution is both exciting and an appropriate step in improving the access of the blind and visually impaired to information about the arrival time of Strætó buses. „I am happy with the foresight shown by Strætó because I have no doubt that in a few years such codes will be established in many more places, which will improve the access of the blind and visually impaired to information in the environment and significantly increase their independence. This is the first time in Iceland that information in public transport in environmental sign is accessible to those who cannot read it.
Jóhannes S. Rúnarsson, CEO of Strætó, said at the signing that he was proud that Strætó was part of a project as important as greatly improving accessibility for the blind and visually impaired in Strætó. It would be a revolution in accessibility, but the board of Strætó set a policy for improved accessibility for everyone, and this is the first phase of that journey.
What are NaviLens codes?
NaviLens codes work in a similar way to QR codes. However, NaviLens codes can be detected from 12 times greater distance than QR codes. Also, NaviLens tags work better in low light and can use the entire field of view of smart device cameras to detect them, unlike QR codes which require more precision.
Users then use the NaviLens app to get information about the location and distance from the code as well as the information it contains. In this way, NaviLens works both to locate bus stops and to provide information about which routes run there and how far it is to the next bus in real time. The codes work the same way on the buses themselves, locating them, reporting which route it is and in which direction the bus is going.
Nevertheless, the codes can be used by anyone because sighted people can use the app NaviLens GO to call up the same real-time information quickly and easily. Also, NaviLens automatically translates information into over 33 different languages and does so automatically depending on which language each smart device is set to. This makes the app a good choice for people who do not have Icelandic as their first language and tourists. The potential user group also expands significantly if you consider those who have difficulty reading, such as e.g. dyslexia and those who have difficulty reading timetables.