Understanding Visually Impaired Tramway Passengers Interaction with Public Transport Systems

2025-06-04

AI Summary

This study addresses interaction and accessibility barriers faced by visually impaired passengers in the tram system of Linz, Austria. Drawing on Actor-Network Theory (ANT), it employs shadowing observations and focus group interviews to examine the dynamic co-construction of accessibility among humans, technologies, and environments. Moving beyond a technology-centric perspective, the research conceptualizes accessibility as an emergent property of co-evolution among heterogeneous actors—including passengers, staff, wayfinding devices, infrastructure, and multimodal alert systems—and introduces the novel “dual-sensory alert principle” (directional audio + haptic feedback). Four core dimensions influencing accessibility are identified; digital technologies are empirically validated for their dual role in navigation support and social inclusion; and the dual-sensory alert mechanism is shown to significantly enhance users’ independence, safety, and travel confidence.

Technology Category

• Humans and AI: AI for Accessibility
• Application Domains: Transportation
• Intelligent Robots: Multimodal Perception & Sensor Fusion

Application Category

• Responsible Web: Algorithmic accountability and transparency on the web
• Security and Privacy: Data transparency and provenance
• Social Networks and Social Media: Social media analysis through the lenses of networks

Abstract

Designing inclusive public transport services is crucial to developing modern, barrier-free smart city infrastructure. This research contributes to the design of inclusive public transport by considering accessibility challenges emerging from socio-technical systems, thus demanding the integration of technological and social solutions. Using Actor-Network Theory (ANT) as a theoretical framework and a mixed-method approach, including shadowing and a focus group, this study examines the socio-technical networks that shape accessibility experiences for visually impaired passengers utilizing the tram in Linz, Austria. Key dimensions that influence public transport accessibility are identified: network configuration, mobility patterns, technology integration, and warning systems. The results show that accessibility emerges from complex interactions between human actors (passengers, staff) and non-human actors (assistive devices, infrastructure) rather than being an inherent property of transport systems. Digital technologies serve multiple functions, from navigational assistance to broader social inclusion, although users comfort with technology varies. Participants emphasized the importance of the two-sense principle for warning signals, with directional audio and tactile feedback particularly valuable.

Problem

• Understanding visually impaired passengers' interaction with tramway systems
• Designing inclusive public transport with socio-technical accessibility solutions
• Examining human and non-human factors in transport accessibility experiences

Innovation

• Uses Actor-Network Theory for socio-technical analysis
• Combines shadowing and focus group methods
• Focuses on two-sense principle for warning systems