The digital age has opened up new opportunities to improve the customer experience in using public transport. Specifically, we see the role of smart technology in the hands of customers as the new rubric to deliver services that are individualised to the needs and preferences of current and future public transport users. This frontline of service delivery has become known as mobility as a service (MaaS) whereby an individual can book a service delivered through a range of possible modes of transport. At one extreme we have point-to-point car based services such as Uber, Lyft, BlaBlaCar and RydHero (for children), with futuristic suggestions of these gravitating to driverless vehicles (cars and buses). Variations around this future are bus-based options that include smart bookable ‘point-via-point-to-point’ services that offer up options on travel times and fares (with the extreme converting to the point-to-point car service, possibly also operated by a bus business); as well as the continuation of conventional bus services (with larger buses) where the market for smart MaaS is difficult or inappropriate to provide (e.g., contracted (often free) school bus services). This paper, as a think piece, presents a number of positions that could potentially represent future contexts in which bus services might be offered, recognising that a hybrid multi-modal state of affairs may be the most appealing new contract setting, enabling the design of contracts to be driven by the mode-neutral customer experience, and the growing opportunity to focus on MaaS. We suggest that the adrenal rush for mobility services, however, may not deliver the full solution that supporters are suggesting.

Hensher, David A
Transportation research. Part A, Policy and practice

ISSN:

0965-8564

Datum:

04/01/2017

This paper presents the design and development of a prototype of a reconfigurable wheelchair for rehabilitation and self-assistance to fit the size of a seven years old child (average 35 kg weight). Though the developed prototype is developed at this stage to fit a child, it can be resized, after considering variations in weight and size, to fit an older adult. The developed prototype has a mechanism that enables the user to transform from sit-to-stand (STS) posture and vice versa. With the help of the developed wheelchair, the user will also be able to adjust the posture of his upper body using an adjustable back support using two linear actuators. This configuration will allow the user to use the wheelchair as a mobility device as well as for rehabilitation purposes without the need of external support. The availability of STS and back adjustment mechanisms will allow the user to do regular exercising which will enhance blood circulation as sitting for long periods inflates lower limbs disability. The proposed configuration will help in enhancing the functional capabilities of end-users allowing for increased independence and ultimately quality of life.

Goher, Khaled M.
Cogent engineering

ISSN:

2331-1916

Datum:

12/01/2016

Cheng, Po-Hsun

Tidskrift:

Assistive technology

ISSN:

1040-0435

Datum:

07/02/2016

Batterman, Jared M.

Tidskrift:

Assistive technology

ISSN:

1040-0435

Datum:

01/31/2017

Förmågan att orientera med ljud, ekolokalisation, ekopejling eller sonar, är det som gjort fladdermössen till en av de mest framgångsrika och mångskiftande däggdjursgrupperna. 

Med ekolokalisation menas förmågan att frambringa ljud och sedan lyssna på ekot för att på så sätt orientera sig i omgivningen. I fladdermössens fall är ekolokalisationsljuden en serie högfrekventa läten, det vill säga ultraljud som är så höga att vi i de flesta fall inte hör dem. 

Fördelen med att  ha hög frekvens på ljuden är att man kan få eko tillbaka från små föremål - ju högre frekvens desto finare känslighet. Nackdelen är att höga frekvenser snabbt tunnas ut i luften och därför blir räckvidden mycket kort. De är alltså ganska närsynta, eller snarare "närhörda". 

Beroende på vilka byten fladdermössen specialiserat sig på och i vilken miljö de flyger i, så ser deras ekopejlingsläten lite olika ut. Ljuden är oftast artspecifika. Man brukar kunna känna igen olika arter och släkten på hur ljuden ser ut och vilken frekvens de har. 

Fladdermöss låter lite olika beroende på vad de gör. De låter på ett sätt när de flyger långa sträckor, på ett annat sätt när de söker efter mat. De låter på ett tredje sätt  precis i det ögonblick de tar en insekt.
http://www.nrm.se/faktaomnaturenochrymden/djur/daggdjur/fladdermoss.169.html

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