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Sight for Wight Launches Audible QR Codes For Hovertravel

Sight for Wight Trustee and volunteer Ruth Hollingshead using the "Hello Everyone" QR code at Hovertravel’s Ryde Terminal.

Sight for Wight has launched an innovative new audible technology at Hovertravel to help visually impaired Islanders.

The independent, Island charity has added “Hello Everyone” audible QR codes – which can be scanned with a smartphone – to help those with visual impairments get a better understanding of Hovertravel’s COVID precautions.

When scanned, the digital barcode opens a link which contains a verbal description of the environment and how it may differ from their pre-COVID experiences.

CEO of Sight for Wight, Lisa Hollyhead, said:

“As someone born with 88 per cent sight loss, I have found the huge number of physical COVID secure changes made in what were very familiar surroundings, difficult to judge.

“I knew voice was the way to help resolve this but how to turn a poster into voice was the challenge. Lockdown allowed me to research to resolve this and “Hello Everyone” was born.  Our audible QR codes provides audible guidance giving a basic layout, where to go and what to avoid in any building or environment.

“As a regular user of Hovertravel, I approached them and described, from a visually impaired person’s point of view, how different the terminal was compared to my usual journey. They responded immediately and both terminals are now installed with the “Hello Everyone” QR Codes.”

The QR code system has been installed in both the Ryde and Southsea terminals.

Managing Director of Hovertravel, Neil Chapman, said:

“We were approached by the team at Sight for Wight with feedback about our service and this very simple, but effective concept was suggested. Any smartphone will scan this QR code and then the customer presses play to listen.

"Throughout this pandemic we have been keen to give customers confidence that Hovertravel is safe and secure, and this project is a valuable addition to our customer communications.We are very grateful to Sight for Wight’s suggestion and assistance in making this innovation a reality. It is another great example of two Island organisations working together for the good of all travellers.”

More information on Sight for Wight can be found on their website.

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