The Sicombus Multimedia Transport Information System, a solution that allows bus riders in select cities to receive real-time travel information on city bus routes, will use text-to-speech technologies from Loquendo.
This solution has been developed by two Spanish companies, Proconsi and Icon Multimedia.
With an R&D investment of 400,000 euros, this Digital Signage Project will encourage the use of public transport, increase passenger confidence in the service, and transform the daily routine of millions of users into a positive experience.
Among the many options available, the solution offers travellers useful route information: bus timetables, stops and routes, connections with other lines and other transport networks. Sicombus can also manage other types of information such as news, weather forecasts, tourist information, plus location-based services that can relay information about different points of interest along the journey. The system also delivers connection information with other transportation systems such as trains, flights, etc, so delivering a multi transport information channel with real benefits for passengers.
Compared with other existing Digital Signage systems, Sicombus offers key improvements such as the use of dynamic information based on the GPS position of the bus, enabling the creation of personalized publicity channels and the enhanced provision of local cultural information.
Information is updated in real time using a central Text to Speech Server powered by Loquendo’s accurate and natural sounding synthetic speech – available in various languages and voices. No pre-recorded audio is used, enabling messages to be created dynamically from a variety of sources and third parties systems, including advertising, and thus continually update
SICOMBUS has already been deployed in the bus fleets of Asturias Consorcio Transporte and Leon City, both in Spain, and is ready to be implemented in other types of public transport such as trains, regional buses, in airports, etc.
"When we started designing the Siscombus solution, we were looking for a tool that offers the highest text to speech quality and with the biggest selection of languages ??and voices as possible, and Loquendo is the most logical choice. We have seen the tremendous power of their technologies, while ease of use and Loquendo technical support is best in class,” said Rafel Hornos, R&D Director ICON Multimedia.
“As soon as we started using Loquendo TTS, we knew it was the best technology to make SICOMBUS a success. We will undoubtedly continue to use Loquendo speech technologies, and increase their use in new features being developed for the SICOMBUS solution,” said Tomás Castro Proconsi CEO.
“Use of TTS is becoming more important each day in Digital Signage projects. Multimedia and multimodal real time information adds significant value for passengers, and not only in terms of timetables and transport connections, but also tourism, cultural and shopping information is greatly appreciated by passengers. In Loquendo, we are proud of SISCOMBUS’ success and its use of our technology, but it’s also important that, due to the use of TTS, information can be delivered to all passengers, including disabled people,” said Marco Piña, Loquendo Sales Manager for Spain & Portugal
For more information about SICOMBUS: www.sicombus.com
About Proconsi
PROCONSI specializes in systems development and integration, with broad experience in the field of technology, IT and communications, using the finest consultancy and information systems professionals.
PROCONSI uses technology in an innovative and productive way in order to deliver full solutions which are adapted to the business environment of each client, thus improving the company’s performance and placing it ahead of its competitors. For the 20 years that PROCONSI has been in the market it has consolidated its position as a reference point in the field, as well as being a national leader in specialized sectors. PROCONSI has become a pioneering firm in the development of specific IT solutions for SMEs, thanks to its foresight in thinking of its clients as its core, trying to cover their general needs and focusing its efforts on this type of companies. It boasts infrastructures and a professional team established to attend to both businesses and institutions in the best possible way.
PROCONSI now boasts a portfolio of more than 1,800 customers that use its services.
www.proconsi.com
About Icon Multimedia
Created in 1993, ICON Multimedia was the first company in Castilla y León dedicated exclusively to design and installation of multimedia services. The company has a young and highly qualified employee’s staff, and has a strong presence in the market for Integrated Communication Solutions with its Solution Public Deneva, especially in high availability environments, such as High Speed ??Rail Lines and Marketing Solutions Visual, among others.
Since company beginning, ICON Multimedia has pursued to be an innovator player in all fields of market as it goes, using the latest technologies and highly skilled professionals for each new project that we face.
Thus, based on customer needs, we make those goals that make us who come in the form of small ideas that shape our team with his experience and professionalism will result in a true, no doubt the latest in technology and design.
www.iconmm.com
About Loquendo
Awarded Speech Industry ‘Market Leader’ for the past four consecutive years, Loquendo provides a complete range of speech technologies for telephony, mobile, automotive, embedded and desktop solutions – in 31 languages with 75 voices, and constantly growing.
Loquendo TTS and Loquendo ASR empower people to interact with technology in the most natural way possible – using their voice – creating a next-generation client experience while saving businesses millions each year. Also integrable via the Loquendo MRCP Server and VoxNauta VoiceXML, CCXML & SCXML platform, Loquendo speech technologies power millions of calls every day in the telecommunications and enterprise markets across the globe.
Loquendo Loquendo TTS and ASR are also deployed in more than 20 million devices worldwide in embedded, automotive and mobile environments. Loquendo is a Telecom Italia company headquartered in Turin, Italy, with offices in the US, UK, Spain, Germany and France, and a global network of partners. For more info, and to hear Loquendo TTS for yourself, go to to www.loquendo.com