How are tech innovators making it easier for people with disabilities to use public transport?

Are you one of the 14 million people in the UK with some form of disability? Or do you know someone who lives with a disability? Then you’ll probably know how hard it can be to use public transport - whether it’s getting on and off a bus, or navigating the complex, stressful and often-confusing environment of a train station.   We’re working with innovators to find solutions that will make it easier for people to live active lives. In this episode of the Connected Places Podcast we speak to some of those innovators about how artificial intelligence, gaming and sensing technology is revolutionising how we get from A to B.   It’s all part of the UK Government’s Inclusive Transport Strategy and the Department for Transport (DfT) is working with technology companies to help find the products and services that could make a real difference in people’s lives by removing barriers to travel for people with additional needs.   One of the programmes it’s using is called a Transport Research and Innovation Grant (TRIG). It’s a way of funding proof of concept research projects that are all about not just improving the UK’s transport system, but helping to grow businesses and the wider economy.   And the Catapult’s role in this?   As part of our strategic partnership with DfT we’re providing wrap around support to government and business, to make sure that the good ideas that come out of these grants don’t fail for the wrong reasons.   In this episode we meet some of the companies who participated in the 2021 Accessibility TRIG (formally known as A-TRIG) and what they got out of the programme. We speak to Chris Thompson, CEO of You.Smart.Thing, Fredi Nonyelu, CEO of Brite Yellow, Mark Robinson, Founder of Chrome Angel, as well as Christine Hemphill, Managing Director of the inclusive research consultancy, Open Inclusion, and the Catapult’s SME Development Programme Lead, Rebecca Goulding.   Music on this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions and Phill Ward Music (www.phillward.com)   Show notes:   If you'd like to get in touch with your feedback, comments and suggestions on what you'd like to hear more of on Connected Places, please email: [email protected]. We’re looking forward to hearing from you!   To find out more about what we do at the Connected Places Catapult and to hear about the latest news, events and announcements, please sign up to our newsletter!   Follow the show!   Don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Please also take a moment to write a review and rate us so that more people can hear about the podcast and what we do at Connected Places Catapult.