Introducing "Wayfinder"
Birmingham City Council is one of the first local authorities to implement a large scale orientation system using RNIB React.
Set up by the City Centre Management team, Birmingham's RNIB React system is called Wayfinder. It was developed to improve access to transport, shopping, public services and visitor attractions around the city centre.
The Wayfinder system allows users to access audio information designed to help them as they navigate through the hustle and bustle of this busy and often disorienting environment.
"This is an excellent system, assisting blind and partially sighted people find their way around Birmingham city centre. It will help people more easily find transport in the city, their places of work, shopping venues, public services and visitor attractions, making Birmingham an even more accessible city" Councillor Len Gregory, Cabinet Member for Transportation and Street Services.
Where are we now?
So far, 57 RNIB React units have been installed, focussing on the main areas where people are expected to need additional information.
These include railway stations, bus stops and taxi ranks as well as popular shopping areas and civic buildings.
Working with groups including Birmingham Focus on Blindness and the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, the City Centre Management team chose these areas to help encourage independent mobility around key services within the city centre.
How does it work?
To use the system, blind and partially sighted people carry a small trigger fob. The trigger fob sends a constant radio signal that is picked up by the RNIB React speaker unit.
The unit then delivers a pre-recorded audio message giving brief details of the immediate surroundings. Trigger fobs for the Birmingham project are available free of charge for anyone who is registered blind or partially sighted from several distributors (full list at end of this page).
The speaker units deliver audio information telling the user where they are and giving limited information about their immediate surroundings.
Who was involved?
Birmingham City Centre Partnership set up a regular consultation group to decide the positioning of the signs, contents of the messages and to ensure they would be as relevant and helpful as possible.
The consultation group included representatives from:
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Birmingham Focus on Blindness
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Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)
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Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
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Queen Alexandra College
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National Federation for the Blind
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Access Committee for Birmingham
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Deafblind UK
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MK Design
What the future holds
Following the successful launch of the system in Summer 2006, plans are now being considered to expand "Wayfinder" to bring this fundamental information to even more blind and partially sighted people in Birmingham.
RNIB have a number of development projects underway to explore the potential benefits of this exciting new technology.
What is RNIB React?
RNIB React is the talking sign system that helps people who are blind and partially sighted find their way around town centres, safely and independently. When linked to real time information signs, it can also help people decide which bus or train they want to catch.
Contact us
Business Development Team
RNIB Innovation and Development
Phone 01733 37 53 45
Email busdev@rnib.org.uk
Contacts for Birmingham trigger fob distributors
If you would like a trigger fob to use in Birmingham, please contact one of the following distributors:
Birmingham Shopmobility
Snow Hill Station
7 Colmore Road
Birmingham
B3 2BJ
Telephone 0121 236 8980
Email shopmobs@freeuk.com
Birmingham Shopmobility
Level 2, Centre Car Park
Bullring
Birmingham
B5 4BU
Telephone 0121 616 2942
Email brshopmobility@freeuk.co
Birmingham Focus on Blindness
48 Woodville Road
Harborne
Birmingham
B17 9AT
Telephone 0121 478 5217
Email info@birminghamfocus.org.uk