CTA Foundation Develops Transportation Solutions for Four Types of Disabilities in Collaboration with IBM

Local Motors is collaborating with IBM and the CTA Foundation to develop transportation solutions for people with disabilities and/or impairments and to make Olli available to everyone.

Since announcing their partnership at CES 2017 in January of last year, Local Motors, IBM, and the CTA Foundation have collected design ideas through numerous workshops, hackathons, and competitions conducted with partners from diverse ecosystems and targeting many people around the world.

The CTA Foundation, IBM, and Local Motors partnered with companies that could create differentiation in how transportation solutions are utilized. Following their research, these three organizations identified advanced technologies that could make Olli easier to use by focusing on four types of people.

These four types of people are those with visual impairments, hearing impairments, mobility impairments, and cognitive impairments. Because these individuals have different needs and communication methods, the three organizations partnered with stakeholders across all sectors to showcase the combination of new technologies that can improve people's lives.

Steve Awell, Senior Director of the CTA Foundation, stated, "We are very pleased to see Olli at CES 2018." He added, "Since we announced the Olli project at CES last year, our partners have met with various organizations representing people with different disabilities and seniors to gather ideas about vehicle design. They have submitted ideas through the internet, and by collecting ideas from many #AccessibleOlli partners, we have been able to identify ways that technology designed for general consumers can meet the needs of seniors and people with disabilities."

Brittany Stottler, Vice President of Marketing at Local Motors, stated, "What we have focused on is how people interact with driverless vehicles, and the fact that no one discusses how this interaction could have a significant impact on people with disabilities or impairments who depend on a "driver" to assist them."