Challenge: Amsterdam: How to include the deaf and hearing impaired in broadcasting info on public transport?

Fonetic

Did you know that 1.5 million people in the Netherlands are deaf or hearing-impaired? With this in mind, CommuniCity invited tech providers to explore ways to improve accessibility in public transport communication. Fonetic is an app that runs in the cloud, using AI to translate spoken messages into chat messages. That way you can read instead of hearing urgent messages at stations and in transport, receiving them on your favorite chat app, in your own language! The app was developed in a design sprint in Amsterdam, on board a tram and at the offices of the GVB, the regional transport company. The testers were deaf and hearing-impaired volunteers who had indicated a desire to co-create an innovative solution to more accessible and inclusive public transportation service.