We all know what it’s like: we’re at a busy station, we’re in a rush and there are a large number of announcements coming through over the tannoy. Is that one meant for us? Well, not anymore. At least for passengers in Frankfurt.
Trains are constantly arriving at and departing from the underground platforms. Announcements chase each other at equally regular intervals. To make sure passengers understand announcements even during the busy rush hour periods, Deutsche Bahn and the Rhein-Main-Verkehrsbund (RMV) have teamed up with Berlin-based start-up HOLOPLOT. Their innovative audio system can help.
How Does HOLOPLOT Work?
It is able to target sound waves to any spot in a given space, as precisely as a laser beam. That means announcements are aimed at very specific areas on platforms. Regardless of where on a platform passengers are, they will only receive information that is relevant to them. Announcements for the opposite platform will no longer be audible to them. This makes orientation easier and reduces the overall background noise.