June 2, 2016
Bureau of Transportation, Tokyo Metropolitan Government
Keikyu Corporation
Yamaha Corporation
Field Test of a Multilingual Guidance App on Railways
A First in the National Capital Region
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Transportation, Keikyu Corporation (Minato-ku, Tokyo), and Yamaha Corporation (Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka) will carry out field testing on Omotenashi Guide, a system developed by Yamaha Corporation that uses acoustic data transmission to send information to smartphones as text in multiple languages, as outlined below.
This trial is a first for railways in the National Capital Region. By providing foreign visitors with the information contained in announcements broadcast at select stations and onboard trains operated by Keikyu Corporation and the Bureau of Transportation (Toei Subway) in text format in multiple languages, the participants aim to realize seamless multilingual support from Haneda Airport to the center of Tokyo.
1. Outline
In select locations within railway stations and onboard trains, the contents of announcements broadcast and information shown on displays will be sent to smartphones using acoustic data transmission. The corresponding text will be displayed in multiple languages on smartphones and other devices that receive the transmission. Based on the results of this field test, the usefulness of Omotenashi Guide and other factors will be analyzed to better grasp user needs and improve the application’s functionality.
To obtain information being transmitted, users must download the Omotenashi Guide application from the App Store and activate the application. (Free to download.)
*Applications for Android and Windows Phone are currently under development.
2. Test period
Thursday, May 19, 2016 – Friday, March 31, 2017
3. Location, schedule
| Start date | Location | Planned content of services | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toei Asakusa Line (Bureau of Transportation) |
May 19 | Information sign outside of the Asakusa Station ticket gate (To be expanded successively to other stations) |
Information on facilities in and around the station |
| June (To be carried out successively) |
On Asakusa Line trains (One train) |
Automatic announcements broadcast onboard the train | |
| Asakusa Station platform | Platform information displays (Differs according to the direction the train is headed) |
||
| Keikyu Line | Mid-June | On Keikyu Line trains (One train) |
Automatic announcements broadcast onboard the train |
| End of FY2016 (target date) | Shinagawa Station, Haneda Airport International Terminal Station platforms | Platform information displays | |
| Automatic announcements broadcast in the station |
*With respect to automatic announcements broadcast inside the station, field testing is already underway at Yokosuka-chuo Station on the Keikyu Line.
4. Six languages
Japanese, English, Chinese (traditional and simplified), Korean, Thai, French
5. Examples of text displayed
Automatic announcement on a train: “We will soon be arriving at Haneda Airport International Terminal. Please get off here for international flights.”
Platform display: The next train is an Airport Limited Express bound for Haneda Airport.
Information signage: Exit A4 Kaminarimon, How to connect to Wi-Fi
6. How to use the application
Download the Omotenashi Guide application from the App Store. When you activate the application at locations where service is provided, information such as the contents of announcements broadcast from speakers and area information will be displayed in the language selected.
STEP 1
Download Omotenashi Guide from the App Store
*Applications for Android and Windows Phone are currently under development.
STEP 2
Omotenashi Guide app screen
Sticker indicating service location
Activate the application in areas where service is provided
*Stickers are displayed at locations where service is provided
STEP 3
Text will be displayed on the screen in the language your mobile phone is set to or the language that you select from the application menu.
Omotenashi Guide is a system created to support the Universal Design of Sound concept using several technologies for which patents are pending.
Through the introduction of this system, we will be able to provide information in text format in multiple languages to smartphone users whose phones cannot connect to the internet. The system can also be introduced using existing speakers and public address systems. Since the information is displayed as text, it does not disturb others nearby who do not need interpretation.
"Omotenashi Guide," "Omotenashi App," and "Universal Design of Sound" are registered trademarks of Yamaha Corporation.
Inquiries
Toei Transportation Customer Service Center (Japanese/English)
Phone:+81-3-3816-5700
Keikyu Customer Service Center (Japanese)
Phone:+81-3-5789-8686 or +81-45-441-0999
Yamaha Corporation
Email form (English) https://inquiry.yamaha.com/contact/?act=30&lcl=en_WW
