Starting on Monday, the Metropolitan transit organ will facilitate the deaf and hardships of Yorkuorians and tourists to communicate with transit staff by scanning the QR code. That code will bring them to an application called Convo nowWhat will connect them to a live language translator so that they can be easier to engage with MTA staff and get answers to any questions.
The Pilot Program launches over a dozen locations (listed below) and will be free for transit users. The QR codes will be posted on green signs on a window or stand and direct the users of the Live ASL translator in the Conwo Now application, which will make it easier for MTA employees who may not know how to engage with more drivers.
Quemuel Arroyo, MTA's chief accessibility officer, says New York is the perfect location for this pilot program because of the large volume of residents and tourists.
“No other transit system throughout North America has the volume we have, over 6 million customers every day between our trains, our buses, our railroads and we provide that service to all,” Arroyo said. “That customer base has a large number of needs and this is what makes this case study so important and so influential.”
Transit staff can be found within the stands, with ticket machines or platforms, depending on the questions of the day. Ideally, deaf and hard-working transit drivers can find a member of staff and communicate with them through convoor interpreters.
Convo is now one of several services that require to increase digital accessibility by touching mobile technology. Large tech companies are also focused on expanding their offers to a wider range of users in recent years, more utilizing AI to do that. For example, Google took out more Expressive titles To better convey emotions and tone, Apple has improved Siri to Better detection of atypical speech And Amazon added Text features and speech and titles to Alexa. This is part of the effort to make platforms and services available to more people – both more adaptable and useful to everyone.
What is a convo?
The convo was founded nearly 15 years ago as a video relay service – a telephone service that allows people who are deaf or difficult to communicate with video help. The company then expanded the ASL interpreters on request, 24/7 through the CONWO Now application (Available on iOS And Android) and a web site so that users could communicate more efficiently with people who may not know the ASL. Available in the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia and South Africa.
The World Health Organization says there is more than 1.5 billion people with hearing loss globally. Further, more than 70 million deaf or hard people Use a sign language to communicate, according to National Geographic.
Convo co-founder Wayne Bets says the service removes an obstacle for individuals to find interpreters and coordinate their availability. Instead, users can call one of more than 500 available interpreters at any time, whether for a 5-minute exchange in a store or a chief work meeting.
“This really allows us to revolutionize how we use interpreters and tools in our daily lives,” Bets said.
CoVo now user Paul Mauzer first downloaded the application four months ago to help alleviate the challenges of being the only deaf employee in his office. He says it is useful in a series of situations, “whether it communicates with a waitress, a hotel clerk in front of the desk or a car salesman. It allows deaf and difficult to hear individuals communicate with others just as easily as everyone else in everyday conversations. “
Another user, who asked to be listed as CT for privacy reasons, noted that the translator service is particularly useful for clinic visits.
“When we go to meetings now, we don't have to call two weeks before asking for an interpreter,” CT said. “We do not have to call a day or two before we make sure the office does not forget to inform them that the interpreter must cancel it. We appear, connect to the Wi-Fi office and scan the QR (qualified) translator in literal seconds. “
Making a convo now on public transit
Convo now gives individual users 20 free minutes a month, after which the payment model begins properly (business activities can reduce costs for their employees). The company's partnership with MTA, on the other hand, is part of its convo access service, in which MTA pays a fixed annual rate – which means users will not have to worry about charging for wiretapping ASL translator while buying A. Enter a ticket, for example.
Before starting this pilot program, MTA and Convo led evidence of the concept of the Times Square and 34 Pen Street and demanded a contribution from advisory committees, representation organizations and the office of the Mayor of Cuyork. with special needs, which all confirmed the goals of the program. Arroyo said that transit clients were engaged positively with the service.
“We have to check and confirm that the solutions we put there are what people want to see,” he said.
The Pilot Program runs from February 10 to November 2025. From there, MTA will assess the feedback from the users and decide where to take the program.
Transit customers can access the convo service at the following locations.
Customer Customer Service Centers:
- Stadium 161 Street-Diures
- Center of Atlantic Avenue-Barklie
- Times Square-42 Street
- Avenueekson Heights-Frosevel Avenue
- St. Georgeorje
Long Island Railway:
- Atlantic terminal
- Babylon
- Grand Central Madison
- Jamaica
- Pen Station
- Rumboi
Metro Northern Railway:
- Grand Central terminal
- White plains
Additional locations:
- Operations to sell mobile phones (buses and vans)
-
3 stone street