A new app to help public transport passengers by enabling them to alert a bus driver that they are waiting at a bus stop is now being trialled by Adelaide Metro.
The See Me app was developed by Cassie Hames, an Adelaide-based software programmer at SAGE Automation, who is legally blind. While the app has initially been designed to support people who are blind or vision-impaired, it can be used by people of all abilities, with a broader potential to ease anxiety for all public transport customers.
From Monday, the See Me app will be trialled for a six-month period on the 99A and 99C free City Connector services, available in the Adelaide CBD from Monday to Friday. Instead of physically hailing the bus, the See Me app links to the bus onboard system to notify the bus driver digitally that a passenger is waiting. The app then delivers spoken, visual and haptic notifications to the passenger's phone when the bus is approaching both the pick-up and destination locations.
The app ensures people don’t miss their stop and helps to make independent travel on public transport safer and more accessible for everyone.
Ms Hames has been recognised as one of three winners of the 2022 Holman Prize - an international award for innovative thinkers who are blind or legally blind - for her development of the app.
The app was also recently recognised as Initiative of the Year at the 2023 Australian Access Awards.
Earlier this year, SAGE Automation secured a $500,000 investment from iMOVE Cooperative Research Centre’s Impact Extension Program to support the app development from proof-of-concept to a scalable solution.
Initial trials of See Me are in plan for South Australia, Queensland and NSW. Additionally, SAGE have run trials of the app to gather user feedback from clients of Guide Dogs SA/NT and See Differently with the Royal Society for the Blind.
The trial has the added benefit of assisting tourists who often frequent both routes, ensuring they don’t miss their destinations when travelling around Adelaide.
The See Me app is available now for download on Apple and Android devices by searching for See Me: Bus Signalling.
Quotes
Attributable to Tom Koutsantonis
Public transport should be a safe and accessible option for all travellers and the See Me app helps provide greater inclusiveness for visually impaired people.
The app will also increase accessibility for all users of public transport by providing users with the ability to review their route and be notified of their destination stop.
We’re proud to be working with Cassie in the trial of See Me and look forward to reviewing how the app can be integrated into our existing systems.
Attributable to Cassie Hames
The See Me app is a dream of 15 years and based on my experiences and the experiences of many in the blind community using public transport independently.
Going out into the community shouldn’t be less of an experience from one person to the next, regardless of ability, disability, or anything else.
As a frequent public transport user, I wanted to develop a solution that increases accessibility for all people so that everyone can feel comfortable, confident, and safe catching the bus.
See Me ensures no one is left behind.
Attributable to Lucy Hood MP, Member for Adelaide
I first met Cassie 12 months ago to learn all about the See Me app - and was blown away by her idea.
As a big supporter of the Free City Connector Bus, I couldn’t think of a better service to trial the technology.
It will make the City Connector even more accessible and inclusive and I can’t wait to hear the feedback from our local commuters.
