ChapARone is an Accessibility Travel Tool, harnessing the power of Augmented Reality and AI to improve the travelling experience for passengers with disabilities.
In association with Avanti North West, Network Rail and Costain, ChapARone has been funded by Dept for Transport, as part of FOAK23, delivered by Innovate UK. Gazooky has partnered with the European Space Agency to develop the which drives the geolocation of the unique digital interactive AR characters.
ChapARone is a cutting-edge Content Management System (CMS) that empowers station staff to create and send real-time information to passengers at various touchpoints within the transport hub.
Transport hubs can reach passengers wherever they are, with information about platform changes, delays, and facilities. And there’s no need to download apps. Instead, passengers can instantly access critical updates through QR codes located throughout the station, or GPS triggers which send them location-relevant notifications.
The tool’s ultimate goal is to reduce anxiety and confusion, especially for travellers with disabilities. It delivers the information in a variety of formats, including interactive augmented reality characters who answer questions in real time – a great option for people with anxiety issues or neurodiversity – who may not want to talk to a stranger to resolve problems.
ChapARone enhances the travel experience for everyone, providing peace of mind, independence, and smooth, worry-free journeys.
Film made by Leah Olwen Llywellen and Rose Kay
ChapARone is great. Even if you aren’t disabled you will find it really useful, making it better for everyone to travel independently, with less stressSara Beer, disabled actress and Director for Change