Empowering the Elderly: Implementation of Navigation Assistance Application for Public Transportation

Samuli Heinonen, Erkki Siira

2016

Abstract

When a human ages, the functional abilities could weaken, which can lead to isolation from the society. Applying technological aid for improving the quality of life of the elderly helps them to stay independent and active in their community across their life. This article introduces a system, which is empowering the elderly by aiding them in using public transportation in both rural and urban environments, and helps them in this way to maintain the mobility and activity. The ASSISTANT system provides a simple, yet effective, route info for user and shows only relevant information, at the right time and in the appropriate format. The system is communicating with the user via audio and visual guidance. In addition, it has an error detection functionality, which helps user in case of common navigation errors. End user evaluation performed in Helsinki (Finland), Vienna (Austria) and Donostia-San Sebastian area (Spain) confirms that the service works as intended and helps older people to use public transport by guiding them all the way from the start to the end of their journeys. The system was found to be particularly helpful on unfamiliar routes.

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Paper Citation


in Harvard Style

Heinonen S. and Siira E. (2016). Empowering the Elderly: Implementation of Navigation Assistance Application for Public Transportation . In Proceedings of the International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies for Ageing Well and e-Health - Volume 1: ICT4AWE, (ICT4AGEINGWELL 2016) ISBN 978-989-758-180-9, pages 35-44. DOI: 10.5220/0005739500350044


in Bibtex Style

@conference{ict4awe16,
author={Samuli Heinonen and Erkki Siira},
title={Empowering the Elderly: Implementation of Navigation Assistance Application for Public Transportation},
booktitle={Proceedings of the International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies for Ageing Well and e-Health - Volume 1: ICT4AWE, (ICT4AGEINGWELL 2016)},
year={2016},
pages={35-44},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0005739500350044},
isbn={978-989-758-180-9},
}


in EndNote Style

TY - CONF
JO - Proceedings of the International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies for Ageing Well and e-Health - Volume 1: ICT4AWE, (ICT4AGEINGWELL 2016)
TI - Empowering the Elderly: Implementation of Navigation Assistance Application for Public Transportation
SN - 978-989-758-180-9
AU - Heinonen S.
AU - Siira E.
PY - 2016
SP - 35
EP - 44
DO - 10.5220/0005739500350044