The BlueEyes project is back in the news! faberNovel is in the process of developing its partnership with RATP further and continuing experiments for the application of the BlueEyes technology to RATP’s market. The next step will be to test the technology solution in larger stations such as Charles de Gaulle Etoile.

The Blue Eyes concept was formulated at faberNovel over two years ago and an experiment was developed for the Parisian Public Transport Authority (RATP). Its aim was to evaluate selected technologies for their efficiency in guiding people within the Metro. The experiment took place with visually impaired people in order to test the capability and assure the potential of the technology. The philosophy behind the experiment was that if the technique is capable of guiding blind people it can certainly guide tourists, the elderly and novices within the Metro.

The method of guidance uses Bluetooth tags which are positioned throughout the subway station. After defining their departure and arrival points, users are guided by a mobile application which gives vocal messages for the entire journey. One of the unique features of the BlueEyes system is its ability to redirect people when they have taken the wrong direction. This specific aspect gives a unique flexibility to the guiding system and is the first navigation solution of its kind which takes into account human error.

This technology experiment was carried out at Franklin D Roosevelt Metro Station, Paris, in March 2006. Twenty-five visually impaired people participated in the tests over a three day period. The results were that 60% of the users did not make any error during the tests and 100% managed to reach their final destination. Some important feedback from the experimentation was that the technology enabled visually impaired people to navigate the metro without stress and without being overwhelmed by information. Following recent negotiations with RATP, BlueEyes experiments will continue on a larger scale. The ideal situation would be that faberNovel and RATP are able to implement this technology so that eventually all metro stations in Paris will be equipped with the service.

You can learn more on the webite www.blueeyes.fr (click on the ‘demo’ tab in order to view the videos and animations!)