Las Vegas, NV --- The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) Foundation announces an alliance with IBM and Local Motors to help create the world's most accessible, self-driving vehicle. The CTA Foundation, a public foundation with the mission to link seniors and people with disabilities with technologies to enhance their lives, announced the innovative partnership at CES 2017.
To begin identifying new innovations in accessible transportation, the CTA Foundation, IBM and Local Motors will launch a series of workshops and hackathons throughout 2017 to reach innovators of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. The Local Motors Olli - the first self-driving cognitive vehicle, already equipped with some of the world's most advanced vehicle technology - will serve as the foundation of the initiative. Built to include IBM Watson Internet of Things for automotive, the Olli improves the passenger experience and allows for natural interaction with the vehicle.
By calling on students and seasoned developers to apply the advanced cognitive computing capabilities of IBM Watson, Local Motors can create seamless interactions between the vehicle and passengers in an adaptive and immersive environment. Examples of how the Olli may be more accessible include:
• Understanding sign language and communicating back via text
• Adapting light and videos for users with photosensitive epilepsy
• Simplifying the language for those with cognitive disabilities
• Using Image recognition to describe what is outside of the vehicle for blind or visually impaired passengers
This effort represents an extension of IBM's recent collaboration with the CTA Foundation which produced the Outthink Aging study. The research revealed that meeting the needs of a growing aging population will require new technologies, partnerships, ideas and business models. Today, one billion people experience some form of disability - and by 2050, people aged 60 and older will account for 22 percent of the global population. But better access to transportation helps improve independence and the quality of life for seniors and people who suffer from cognitive, vision, memory or physical challenges.
For more information, visit http://www.CTAFoundation.tech