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“Talking Points” – local information for seeing-challenged and seeing

9 Oct. 2008 | Author: AWo | german

Imagine walking along a city street and receiving on one’s cell phone all kinds of information on buildings, businesses or restaurants, in real-time as one strolls along. Using a new Bluetooth system, this may soon become a reality.

It’s called “Talking Points” and has been developed by scientists at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

A press release reports that the system is foremost intended for the visually impaired, to convey information to them en route about their direct surroundings. For the sight-challenged, it is possible to get from point A to point B, but usually what they pass from A to B remains unnoticed, says James Knox, one of the service’s developers. “Talking Points” should change this situation. It should enable this group to locate, for example, public toilets, police stations, bus stops and stations, or restaurants providing menus in Braille.

However this service could also be useful to the seeing, added Knox. Uses for the system could be special offers being broadcast when passing businesses or stores. Also imaginable is the possibility to call up reviews and ratings of other users, relating to the firms or restaurants in the immediate vicinity.

The system works using a Bluetooth transmitter, which costs less than $20 US, and can be used everywhere where information can be beamed to passersby… shops, restaurants, parks, tourist attractions, city facilities or other important locations. A mobile end-user device would then receive the Bluetooth signals and convert them as necessary onto the display or sound information, according to the needs of the user. Also being considered is that the information for the specific location could be edited by the operator via a website and updated as needed. Further, all users will get the chance to comment and rate the offerings, via the Internet.

The scientists do admit that similar systems already exist.  “Talking Points” is however the first service to use Bluetooth technology, broadcasting to non-seeing and seeing users alike, and allowing the user to be served entirely via speech, and allowing user generated content to be collected.

“Talking Points” – local information for seeing-challenged and seeing
Posted in Local Search, Localization technology, News, Practical features | Tags: , , , , , , , ,

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