It is one of the most important issues for railway companies to create an easy-to-use public transport service for all kinds of passengers. We are developing a guidance system for visually impaired persons who feel incovenience and danger at stations. This system consists of a portable information device, a cane carried by users and tag-inserted Braille blocks which are embedded along walkways. The data of the tag is read by a tag reader installed in the cane and transmitted by a radio wave to the portable information device. Then information on the location is provided vocally to the user via a speaker of the portable information device. When the user tell the information device where he/she wants to get the device computes the best route to the destination and presents it to the user. This system realizes a conversational route guidance service for visually impaired persons.
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