'Tardis' fails my blind test

Readers are being invited to submit opinion articles to the BBC Scotland news website. Michael Hughes, a blind person, writes about his experience of using Strathclyde Police's new information kiosk and how he finds getting around the centre of Glasgow.

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GLASGOW POSES CHALLENGE FOR BLIND PERSON

The centre of Glasgow has seen the the arrival of the new Strathclyde Police information system in the style of an old police box. But instead of a policeman inside, it is just electronics.

As a totally blind person, I went down to see what all the fuss was about following the press coverage the "Tardis" received.

Sorry, I am visually impaired, there is no emergency New police kiosk unveiled

As it was recently designed, I was hoping that it might talk, after all it was there to provide information to the public.

I walked from St. Enoch underground station with my cane and finally bumped into the large steel structure.

I felt my way around the object, touching the screens and buttons. They were sunk into the casing, so were quite difficult to feel.

False alarm

Luckily my sighted friend Jane was with me, who confirmed that the information presented was just visual. Jane spotted a guide dog user walking past us and we asked him what he thought of the alien contraption.

He said: "What is this button for?". We all got the fright of our lives when he was connected to the emergency control room. "Sorry, I am visually impaired, there is no emergency," he told the operator.

The new kiosk in the centre of Glasgow

Jane had to go and meet another friend so I decided to get the underground to Buchanan Street as it is near Queen Street station.

Although it would probably just be a straight five- minute walk from St Enoch Square to Queen Street Station for most people, I have to zig-zag in and out the shops and cross two busy roads, taking me about half an hour.

It would be good if Glasgow City Council installed bleeping traffic lights like in Dublin, or paving stones with a slight dip in them, so that I could feel the edges of them with my cane - a cycle lane for blind people!

No need to worry about getting off at the wrong stop, only one station to count.

Talking bank

I was quite peckish after getting off the carriage but I didn't have any money.

The only talking cash machine in Glasgow and one of only two in Scotland is at the Clydesdale Bank's headquarters, but I did not fancy walking half-way down Buchanan Street.

So there I am, standing in the middle of Glasgow on a Monday afternoon, wishing Dr Who would come and whisk me into the future to see if Glasgow is any more accessible in 2025.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and are not endorsed by the BBC.

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We asked Strathclyde Police to respond to Michael Hughes' points about the kiosk. This is what they told us: "The new police box is a pilot information point, an experiment with technology to provide assistance in a static position within the city centre.

"Feedback from users is vital in helping us to adapt and develop the facility to be more effective.

"We welcome any ideas from people who are visually impaired and we will explore ways in which to extend the technology to meet their needs.

"Strathclyde Police endeavours to provide a service to all members of the community and we are always keen to hear about ways in which we can improve."

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Your views on Michael Hughes' article.

I work in IT accessibility and I'm sorry to report that a year or two ago, a similar scheme was proposed in another Scottish city, which I was consulted on. The kiosks were completely inaccessible and the suppliers, when I challenged them, had no idea what accessibility meant or why disabled people would want to use a public information kiosk anyway. Suppliers and manufacturers should be aware that the Disability Discrimination Act requires providers of goods and services to take reasonable steps to ensure accessibility. IT accessibility solutions exist and are inexpensive, suppliers just need to care enough to implement them.
Scott, Scotland

I think that it's a positive step that Strathclyde Police have admitted their failings and as it's only a pilot may change it to be more accessable when/if it goes mainstream. As for talking cash machines. Nearly all cash machines in Japan are talking (Japanese/English) or braille. It's sheer stupidity to think that this would cause a security concern, they simply say instructions out loud, ie "Please enter the amount you wish to withdraw" not "Mrs Smith's PIN is 1234 and she has 12 pound fifty in her account". Then again the Japanese are years ahead of us with making their cities accessible to people with disabilities.
Alan McKissock, Yokohama, Japan (prev Scotland)

I went to have a look at these new machines and was disappointed to find they were only in one language - English. If Glasgow wants to pride itself on being a cosmopolitan city it needs to provide services in more than one language.
Louise, Glasgow

I'm sorry to be so callous, but what do blind people contribute to society that makes it worthwhile to spend the money necessary to make everything easily accessible to them? Special interest groups need to learn to make a better argument than just ranting about rights.
Mark Saunders, Bath, England

I wonder if Mr Sauders would be so callous if one day he found out he was blind! He gives the impression that if needs be he would be very vocal about his own rights. In reply to his comments re 'what do blind people contribute', both my wife and I work full-time, we are both registered blind, we both know quite a lot of people in the same situation who would rather work than be unemployed. So I would say we DO contribute and have every right to our opinions on talking machines, access to buildings and hazards on pavements that make it difficult to walk around town. I found Michael's comments about the Tardis and the talking ATM very interesting.
John, Edinburgh

As a registered blind person I was disgusted with Mark Saunders' comments. I am not a scrounger, I have always worked (and not in sheltered employment) and paid my way. My husband and both pay tax and National Insurance like everyone else. I might add that my husband and I both have responsible jobs. So what if we need a little extra help? We don't ask the Mark Saunders of this world to pay for it. What if he became disabled in some way in the future? I think that he would be shouting very loudly and making sure that he received the help that he needed. Personally, I think Mr Saunders should come into the real world and see how much visually impaired people contribute to society.
Elaine MacKenzie, Edinburgh

I lived in Glasgow for 10 years before moving further down the M8 last year. I can confirm that even for a sited person Buchanan Street is a hive of activitiy with plenty of shoppers and numerous other obstacles such as restricted parking bollards, flower arrangements and statues. The street has an amazing atmosphere, but for those with a disability of any sort, I can see why it would produce many headaches. I found it hard to negotiate with a pram then puschair and now eager toddler, so I can sympathise very much with Michael's comments. Glasgow City Council could do more to make one of it's main streets and tourist hotspots friendlier for all.
Joy Cassidy, Armadale, West Lothian

Oh god, if automated answering machines aren't bad enough - press 1 to report an offence, press 2 to ask directions ... where next?
Dave Alford, Helensburgh

I am sure Michael must find streets like Buchanan St a challenge as it is full of randomly placed metal bollards and large stone benches, never mind the shoppers. Vans are frequently parked along the street also. I have never come across a talking ATM although I would imagine they don't read your pin back out to you as the screen doesn't show the numbers you type. I personally would have no problem using one and hope more banks install them to improve service for their visually impaired customers.
Lexie, Edinburgh

It's worth pointing out that Clydesdale's talking cash machine uses headphones which are plugged into an easy-to-locate port on the front of the machine, thus keeping the transaction safe from prying ears. A partially-sighted friend of mine has used the technology, and he was singing its praises. It's about time all public information, ticket and cash machines used this technology.
Matt Ludlow, Stirling

Crazy in this day and age the police cant manage to make their "Tardis" user friendly for everyone. Please don't tell me it isn't accessible for wheelchair users. Don't the police realise that not everyone is able to see or even able to read. Yes in this day and age people still suffer illiteracy problems so audio can only enhance what is a good idea if by the sounds of it a bit antiquated.
Denice, London

I think it is shocking that in this day in age people with special needs are still being overlooked. I think Strathclyde Police should take a step back and re-think.
Scott Hunter, Edinburgh

I agree with Michael's comments on the Tardis - raised letters or braille symbols on the buttons would help. Perhaps a universal symbol for 'help' could be found which could be embossed on buttons to help the visually impaired. Another button could access synthesized speech as an option. Since this machine is mainly to give out information. However I would not use a 'talking' ATM because of security fears. I do not know how my fears could be alleviated while facilitating Michael's access.
Rosemary, Renfrewshire