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Travel Assistance Device (TAD) to Help Transit Riders with Special Needs

Organization Involvement: USF Center for Urban Transportation Research, U.S. Department of Transportation, Florida Department of Transportation

Currently recruiting? No

Contact: Dr. Sean Barbeau
barbeau@cutr.usf.edu | 813-972-7208

Description:

The Travel Assistance Device (TAD) is a mobile application for global positioning system (GPS)-enabled cell phones that helps new transit riders navigate the public transportation system. TAD prompts the rider in real-time with a recorded audio message (e.g., “Get Ready” and “Pull the Cord Now!”), visual images, and vibration alerts when the rider should pull the stop request cord to exit the bus. Personalized trips are planned for each traveler using the TAD web page. Automated alarms can be triggered and the travel trainer and/or parent/guardian remotely alerted in case a rider wanders off their pre-determined path. Traditional phone communication is possible between the rider and the trainer allowing them to guide the rider to the correct location if they are lost.