Toshima becomes the first Tokyo ward to adopt the ‘shikAI’ audio description App to aid visually impaired

From Barrier Free Japan & The Mainichi Shimbun

May 20 2021

TOSHIMA, TOKYO – A number of apps have been developed to help people with disabilities use the railways. These apps include voice guidance to help the visually impaired get from station to destination smoothly, and has the ability to display information about their disability certificate on their smartphone. As the transportation environment becomes more barrier-free ahead of the Tokyo Paralympics, such apps has been introduced in Toshima Ward, Tokyo.

In April, the app “shikAI” that supports the movement of visually impaired people about 200 meters between the exit of Tokyo Metro Higashi-Ikebukuro Station (Higashi-Ikebukuro 4) and the ward office (Minami-Ikebukuro 2) ”started to provide voice route guidance.”

According to the district, it is the first municipality in Japan to introduce usage of the ‘shikAI’ app.