Saturday, 10 December 2016

An excerpt on the Benefits of VIC System

Benefits of VIC System

Reduce Cost of Manufacturing Tokens

As compared to other current implementations such as those in India and the United Kingdom, instead of a RFID tag or token, our proposed solution provides a cheaper alternative as we utilize an ez-link card. The cost of manufacturing an ez-link card is much lower than a RFID tag or token. The cost to manufacture an ez-link card is $10 as compared to the manufacturing cost of a RFID tag or token of $120.

Self-Reliance

With the implementation of our system, the visually impaired can now have better access to public buses and also have a burden lifted off their shoulders. They can now have another option of assistance when boarding the buses instead of having to constantly ask for help nearby. This might help them feel better about themselves seeing that at least they can try to board buses by themselves without having to trouble others.

An excerpt on the Proposed Visually Impaired Communications (VIC) System

Proposed Solution - VIC System

The solution that the team proposed is a system which involves the installation of a kiosk at every bus stop in Singapore. This system is called the Visually Impaired Communications (VIC) system of which the visually impaired is required to have a customised ez-link card to use the kiosk.

Tactile flooring is strategically placed at both side entrance into the bus stop and leading up to the kiosk.

Figure 2: An example of tactile flooring implementation

The VIC system begins with the visually impaired interacting with the kiosk. The visually impaired is required to tap the customised ez-link card to use the kiosk. This customised ez-link card will be designed specially for the visually impaired and they can register for one at various ticketing offices located islandwide.

The visually impaired has the luxury of having two options when using the kiosk. The first option is for the visually impaired who are well familiarised with their surroundings and knows which bus to take to his desired destination. The visually impaired can then proceed to press the buttons fitted with braille which represents the bus numbers that are available at the bus stop and wait for the bus to arrive. The second option is for the visually impaired who require further information on the buses available or bus routes. They can proceed to locate and use the kiosk to communicate with a transport staff to request for more information. The transport staff will then proceed to inform the nearest desired bus driver.

Figure 3: A close view of the kiosk

The bus will then be required to stop at the head of the bus stop. Upon arrival, announcements will be made via speakers on the outside of the bus to notify the visually impaired. The bus driver will disembark and provide assistance for the visually impaired if they require additional assistance.

Figure 4: Process Flow of the VIC System

An excerpt on the Current Implementations for the Visually Impaired to board buses

Current Implementations for the Visually Impaired to board buses

As Singapore is currently lacking in facilities that help aid the visually impaired navigate and board buses, my team decided to look overseas and research on how other countries cope with such issues. Mentioned below are a few examples of systems being used in other countries.

‘Passenger Bus Alert’ System

According to a research conducted in India by Gholap (2015), the Passenger Bus Alert System begins with the visually impaired approaching the bus stop with an RFID tag. Upon arrival, the RF unit at the bus stop will recognize the signals sent by the RFID tag and proceed to communicate with any nearby buses. It also mentioned that when the bus reaches, the Light Emitting Diode (LED) on board will be switched on, indicating to the driver of the presence of a visually impaired at the bus stop. Thereafter, the buzzer on the bus will be activated to alert the visually impaired that the bus has arrived. Furthermore, the bus routes will be also announced via speaker to the visually impaired. (Sen, 2015)

‘Talking Bus Stop’ System

According to SPD (2014), persons with visual impairment can make use of the ‘Talking Bus Stop’ system to access real time bus information, such as which bus stop they are at, which buses are coming and when the buses are due to arrive. Speakers installed at the bus stops will be triggered to announce the appropriate bus information when a visually impaired approaches with a key fob.

Figure 1: United Kingdom’s Talking Bus Stop system

Monday, 21 November 2016

Reflection on Oral Presentation

Through the many sessions of the Effective Communications module, I have learnt a lot from my peers and also from my instructor, Ms. Lim. During the peer teaching session, I was nervous and presented to the class with a lot of mispronunciations and showed little enthusiasm. After the peer teaching session, I received many valuable feedback from Ms. Lim and my peers, most notably, they mentioned that I lacked of confidence when presenting to the audience.

With the feedback from Ms. Lim and my peers, I proceed to practice on my own and together with my awesome project teammates, Chun Kai and Ling Yi. Before the oral presentation of our project, I experienced lots of difficulties when practicing. However, my teammates never fail to provide me their utmost support which makes me feel determined to improve and make sure that I will be at my best for the oral presentation.

During the oral presentation, I felt that the first speaker of my team, Ling Yi spoke with great enthusiasm and engaged the audience very well. Furthermore, my team’s second speaker, Chun Kai spoke with confidence and professionalism. As I am the last speaker of the team, I knew I have to perform my best so that I will not let my teammates down. So, I presented to the audience about the benefits and challenges of our proposed solution and the conclusion. I personally felt that I showed enthusiasm, demonstrated good hand gestures and eye contact with the audience. I also felt that I engaged the audience and my team members at my side supporting me throughout the oral presentation.

Overall, I am grateful to my teammates for showing me what team camaraderie is all about. I have also learnt from my amazing instructor, Ms. Lim, who never fails to encourage me and the class to give our best in all the assignments and learn from our mistakes.

Sunday, 16 October 2016

Final Submission: Summary & Reader Response on India's SMART City Plans Spawn Innovative Ultra Electric Bus Concept from TATA

In the article “India’s SMART City Plans Spawn Innovative Ultra Electric Bus Concept from TATA” by Stubbs (2016) states that Tata's innovative Ultra Electric bus concept has emerged to aid in India's SMART city development.

This design concept aims to shape the future of India's SMART city and to be an iconic public transport that symbolises modern India smart city. It also aims to give users a memorable experience while taking public transport.

It says that there are two key considerations in the design appearance of the bus. First, the appearance of the bus has to reflect that it is fully electric by creating a striking identity of India’s SMART city. Second, the bus has to reflect that it is an intelligent mode of transport by collaborating iconography from electronic products, using bold graphics and colors, making it instantly recognisable.

It also mentions that Tata has also developed a graphic, using Indian architecture to make the bus as an icon of India.

While I agree with the article that Tata’s ultra electric bus concept shapes the future of India’s modern SMART city, however, I do believe that a SMART city is not just about design, but is also about environmental sustainability which comprises of an environmentally friendly city and saving maintenance costs of buses.

Firstly, the electric bus is environmentally friendly as it uses electric power instead of diesel which results in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (Aber, 2016). The use of drive motors and power converters for the electric buses, as well as the necessary external charging stations could be a highly efficient complete solution for electric buses (Siemens, 2016). Also, the electric bus improves the air quality in cities and thus the quality of air for the inhabitants (Siemens, 2016). Stubb’s article touches on the design aspect of the electric bus and could have reinforce on the development of the modern india’s SMART city by discussing the positive impacts that the electric buses have on the air quality environment in the cities.

Secondly, the reason that the ultra electric bus concept would be successful as it generates more revenue by saving maintenance costs. According to Aber, the bus costs, the operating costs over the 12-year life of a bus, the $39,000 annual savings associated with fuel cost (diesel or CNG vs. electricity) and bus maintenance cost more than offsets the higher cost of electric buses. Stubbs’s article discusses about the benefits that the electric bus will bring to the people of India in terms of the features like Wi-Fi and charging points. More importantly, it is clear that the long term cost savings such as the maintenance costs of having an electric bus over a diesel bus would benefit the people of India with regards to paying lower bus fares. This would eventually lead to the people of India to give their full support on India's SMART city development plan as it also benefits them in the long term.

In conclusion, while Stubbs’s article highlights the key features of the electric bus which aims to symbolise modern India’s SMART city, it is more important to discuss about the positive impacts and long term benefits of having electric buses that would lead to an environmentally friendly and cost savings for the people of India.

References

Siemens (2016, August 17). Fully electric city buses for environmentally friendly short-haul transport.

Retrieved from http://www.siemens.com/press/en/feature/2013/infrastructure-cities/rail-systems/2013-07-ebus.php?content[]=MO

Judah Aber (2016, May 31). Going Electric Adds up to a Good Idea for NYC Buses. Retrieved from http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2016/05/31/going-electric-adds-up-to-a-good-idea-for-nyc-buses/

Wednesday, 5 October 2016

Third Draft: Summary & Reader Response on India's SMART City Plans Spawn Innovative Ultra Electric Bus Concept from TATA

In the article “India’s SMART City Plans Spawn Innovative Ultra Electric Bus Concept from TATA” by Ed Stubbs (2016) states that Tata's innovative Ultra Electric bus concept has emerged to aid in India's SMART city development.

There are two key considerations in the design appearance of the bus. First, the appearance of the bus has to reflect that it is fully electric and was achieved by high impact highlights creating a striking identity. Second, the bus has to reflect that it is an intelligent mode of transport and was made possible by collaborating iconography from electronic products, using bold graphics and colors, making it instantly recognizable.

The interior design of the bus has included many user-centric features. Many considerations were put in place from the driver’s cockpit to the passenger compartment. Wi-Fi enabled and charging points at every seat.

Tata has developed a unique feature on the bus which is to build a protective exoskeleton around the passenger compartment for the users to have a visual sense of protection. Tata has also developed a graphic, using Indian architecture to make the bus as an icon of India.

While I agree with the article to some extent, I believe that Tata’s ultra electric bus concept is not only just a design concept which symbolises and shapes the future of India’s modern SMART city but more importantly, it is also environmentally friendly and helps to save costs that the article has failed to mention.

Firstly, the electric bus is environmentally friendly as it uses solar power instead of diesel which helps to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emissions (Indiaspend, 2016). The absence of tailpipe exhaust fumes, silent running, and lower idling motor energy losses at bus stops or traffic signals could make the electric bus one of those technological options for urban India (Indiaspend, 2016). Also, the electric bus improves the air quality in cities and thus the quality of air for the inhabitants (Siemens, 2016). Ed Stubbs’s article focuses mainly of the key features of the electric bus which only give readers an overview of the design of the electric bus. The article should mention the positive impacts that the electric bus have on the air quality environment in the cities.

Another reason why the ultra electric bus concept would be successful as it generates more revenue by saving costs. According to Indiaspend, electric buses generate 27% more revenue and 82% more profits than diesel buses per day. The maintenance and variable costs of the electric bus are lower than its diesel cousin and its energy efficiency is higher. Ed Stubbs’s article did mention about the benefits that the electric bus will bring to the users in terms of the features like Wi-Fi and charging points. However, the article did not analyse the long term cost savings such as the maintenance costs of having an electric bus over a diesel bus which would benefit the people of India with regards to paying lower bus fares. With the lower bus fares that the people of India have to pay to board an electric bus compared to a diesel bus, they will definitely give their full support on India's SMART city development.

In conclusion, while Ed Stubbs’s article promotes the key features of the electric bus which aims to symbolise modern India’s SMART city, it is more important to discuss about the positive impacts and long term benefits of having electric buses that would lead to an environmentally friendly and cost savings for the people of India. Therefore, Tata Motors and the people of India plays an important role of contributing to India’s SMART city development.

References

Siemens (2016, August 17). Fully electric city buses for environmentally friendly short-haul transport. Retrieved from http://www.siemens.com/press/en/feature/2013/infrastructure-cities/rail-systems/2013-07-ebus.php?content[]=MO

Indiaspend (2016, March 21). IISc Study Reveals That Electric Buses Earn 82% More Profit Than Diesel Buses. Retrieved from http://www.thebetterindia.com/49637/electric-buses-vs-diesel-buses-iisc-study/

Thursday, 29 September 2016

Second Draft: Summary & Reader Response on India's SMART City Plans Spawn Innovative Ultra Electric Bus Concept from TATA

Another reason why the ultra electric bus concept would be successful as it generates more revenue by saving costs. According to Indiaspend, electric buses generate 27% more revenue and 82% more profits than diesel buses per day. The maintenance and variable costs of the electric bus are lower than its diesel cousin and its energy efficiency is higher. Ed Stubbs’s article did mention about the benefits that the electric bus will bring to the users in terms of the features like Wi-Fi and charging points. However, the article did not analyse the long term benefits of having an electric bus over a diesel bus in which it would lead to affordable bus fares for users.

In conclusion, while Ed Stubbs’s article promotes the key features of the electric bus which aims to symbolise modern India’s SMART city, it is more important to discuss about the positive impacts and long term benefits of having electric buses that would lead to an environmentally friendly and cost savings for the people of India. This would eventually contributes to the development of the modern India’s SMART city.