Flight announcements take off with PAstream

Michael Fitzgibbon - CNG Systems Managing Director Michael is a specialist in the design of life critical audio systems to serve the transportation market and has been working in the emergency management and mass transit sector for over 20 years.

Melbourne based, CNG Systems has launched PAstream to assist people who are deaf or hearing impaired at airports by distributing live flight announcements, in ’real voice’ audio and text messages to any mobile phone or other internet-enabled device.

Existing systems used for public address hearing augmentation, called AFILS (Audio Frequency Induction Loop Systems), are only beneficial to a limited group of people with hearing impairment who:

• Wear hearing aids with a telecoil function

• Have activated the telecoil function

• Are located or moving within the signal coverage area a per terminal annual licence to offer the capability.

• Have good residual hearing and are able to understand the sound they are receiving without the aid of lipreading or any other form of visual cues.

However, there are many people with severe to profound hearing impairment who, while wearing hearing aids, cannot benefit from AFILS. This is because they need to lip-read as well as hear the sound, or because not all devices have a telecoil capability and if they do, many users either don’t understand how to turn them on, or simply don’t use them.

These challenges are compounded for people who lack sufficient residual hearing to benefit from wearing a hearing aid, including those who are Deaf and only communicate by signing.

There is high demand for a system that delivers announcements in real time, with 100% coverage to the areas being visited and distribution to a wider range of devices in both text and audio message formats.

CNG has recognised this demand and has developed PAstream in partnership with AviaVox, a global leader in automated voice announcement systems for airports.

PAstream does not require users to download ’yet another‘ software application from the App Store! Simply scan one of the QR codes located conveniently throughout the airport and users are up and running.

A web based app that loads instantly from a QR code or URL. No special software, user registration or personal details required. Operating System independent with coverage wherever internet is available.

Rapid deployment based on a BYOD model where users access the service using their own web enabled devices and internet service. No major comms infrastructure investment required.

Text and Audio play back and translation of announcements provides universal and equal access to PA messaging. New access pathways to PA for hearing impaired and hidden disability groups.

Leveraging AI (Artificial Intelligence) and AviaVox Artificial Voice Systems, PAstream is a Cloud-based service that extends traditional Airport PA announcements to a passenger’s own mobile device in a familiar, message-bank format with 100% coverage of the airport.

This extended coverage also benefits people with other hidden disabilities, such as autism and ADHD, by cutting through the often-confronting noise and bustle of an airport environment. PAstream allows them to monitor flight information messaging quietly, and at a suitable location for their needs, via text and away from where PA announcements are being made. Text messages can also be translated into other languages.

ALIGNMENT TO THE NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION CODE AND DISABILITY (ACCESS TO PREMISES – BUILDINGS) STANDARD

Background

As a class 9b/H2 facility, airports have a requirement under the National Construction Code (NCC) and the Disability (Access to Premises) Standard (DAPS) to provide hearing augmentation (HA) to areas serviced by public address (PA) systems so that people with hearing impairment may have equal access to the announcements being made. These documents form the framework against which building certifiers must ensure compliance.

With the ability to filter announcements by location and also store, read, replay and retrieve past messages in both text and audio form, PAstream allows a user to narrow general messaging to those that are relevant to them based on location, flight details, airline etc., reducing listener fatigue.

In future, CNG is exploring further innovations such as integration with rail systems and providing audio prompts, so the system can be used by people who are blind. Today, the system will be released with both text and audio announcements, with text translation as an option. Pricing has not been confirmed at this stage however, airports have indicated their interest in providing this software as a service to customers with no direct costs to passengers and the airport adopting

As described, HA is provided in the form of Audio Frequency Induction Loop Systems (AFILS) which are installed either in the ground or in the ceiling. AFILS are the ’Deemed to Satisfy‘ (DtS) requirements of the NCC and DAPS. However, as mentioned, they have limitations for people who are profoundly hearing impaired or deaf. In addition, they exhibit the following key practical disadvantages: a. They are costly to install and repair for in ground loops. b. The presence of metal (e.g. reinforcement mesh) affects the system performance. c. They are subject to electro-magnetic interference, which may impact usability. d. The signal may ‘spill’ into unwanted areas. e. There is a high probability of damage over time when fixings for furnishings etc, are relocated that require new building works into the concrete floor. f. They only service a proportion of people who are hearing impaired, i.e. those who have adequate residual hearing and have a suitable hearing aid (i.e. with a ‘T’ coil). g. There may be no obvious alert to when an AFILS fails, other than when a customer complains.

PAstream as an alternate HA technology, in the context of the NCC and DAPS requirements.

Both the NCC and DAPS provide for DtS solutions other than AFILS by using ‘receivers or the like’. However, whilst the issuing of temporary, client-owned HA receivers in a static facility such as an art gallery or auditorium is manageable, this approach is not suitable in an airport. Hence, AFILS have remained the primary HA option despite the limitations outlined above.

PAstream leverages the ‘receiver or the like’ option in the NCC/DAPS, i.e. the mobile phone. By using the listener’s own mobile phone/device and internet service as the receiver, the airport does not have to manage the temporary issuing of receiving devices nor build additional telecommunications infrastructure, such as enterprise-class Wi-Fi networks.

As a web application, PAstream is simply activated via a QR code, which will be embedded in the HA signage distributed around the airport. The user does not need to download any new software.

In Summary

PAstream interfaces to the airport PA system through the AviaVox artificial voice platform and has the following key advantages:

a. Provides universal access wherever a user’s phone has internet service.

b. Will equally serve people who are Deaf/ deaf or hearing impaired as those that are hearing and, in the process, catering for additional disability groups, such as people with ADHD.

c. Improves message understanding with text transcripts as well as audio, meaning even people who are profoundly hearing impaired or deaf can read the text rather than rely on audio.

d. There is the ability to translate the message text to other languages using AI translation services.

e. Users can link their phone audio to Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids.

f. Rapid deployment at low cost with unlimited coverage can be achieved.

g. The user interface is simple, intuitive, and familiar, i.e. a message bank style interface.

h. Extended coverage - There is the ability to receive PA announcements on the device for other areas that the listener isn’t physically in – e.g. monitor gate calls when in food courts, retail areas, car parks, etc.

i. No special network or receivers are required. The software works on a user’s existing internet connection and mobile device (BYOD/Bring Your Own Device principle).

j. The software uses HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of data.

References

In preparing this report, the following documents were referenced:

• National Construction Code 2022

• Disability (Access to Premises — Buildings) Standards 2010

• AS1428.2:1992 Design for access and mobility Part 2: Enhanced and additional requirements—Buildings and facilities