Local MK tech business, Briteyellow, recently worked with Transport for Wales to create augmented reality (AR) maps for their major stations using their indoor wayfinding technology – BriteWay.
Earlier this year, TfW launched Briteyellow’s AR maps of 6 stations, including Cardiff Central, Cardiff Queen Street, Newport, Chester, Shrewsbury, and Pontypridd, as part of their plan to utilise AR to improve indoor navigation across all routes and stations. The idea behind introducing this technology at railway stations is to boost passenger confidence and improve accessibility. It will assist passengers who feel nervous about travelling, including first-time visitors and individuals with mobility issues.
The interactive 3D AR maps have been incorporated into the BriteWay-XR app and are designed to help users easily locate important areas within the stations, such as customer information screens, lifts, toilets, help points and waiting rooms. Passengers will also be able to plan their journey and virtually visit the stations before travelling to save time and effort on the day of travel.
Users can take a virtual tour of all six stations online here.
“These maps will enable customers to plan their journey through the station prior to their visit. It’s really a great step towards improving the experience and accessibility needs of our customers, and I’m looking forward to seeing it develop further,” explains Micheal Davies, the Insights and Innovation Manager at Transport for Wales. He adds, “It’s been fantastic to continue to work with the Briteyellow team, who were part of the first group to take part in the Lab by TFW innovation accelerator programme.”
The BriteWay app integrates AR and VR with Blue Dot navigation for advanced indoor wayfinding and discovery. It can be used as a standalone app or integrated with another application to bring precise location accuracy and high-definition mixed reality guidance together to help visitors plan and easily navigate indoor destinations. From faster indoor navigation with high-definition AR and smart journey planning with VR to seamless customer guidance and vital insights and forecasts, the app is packed with exclusive features that make it invaluable for both, the passengers, and the operator.
Briteyellow has received funding up to £120k from the Department for Transport after winning the Accessibility Transport Research and Innovation Grants. It was part of the first Lab by TfW innovation accelerator programme where the team created a solution to improve communication at station facilities, enable customers to find staff easily, reduce stress for the passengers, and encourage self-service.
Briteyellow has also recently won funding through the Design Age Institute- Transport Pathfinder Innovation Programme which looks to re-design the functionality of the app to make it truly inclusive and easy to use.
The BriteWay-XR app is in the process of customer testing and will soon be available to all.
More information about BriteWay’s AR and VR indoor wayfinding technology can be found here.
To find out how Briteyellow’s innovative tech products can help your business, contact the team on 0845 557 0520 or email info@briteyellow.com.
You can read tech articles and news in the city and the world by visiting Biztech, the official business and technology forum of Milton Keynes.
