The Big Brand Theory- Auxi Audio Accessible Taxi

Auxi is the first app for booking taxis, that is based on voice commands and is completely audio oriented in general. It targets mainly people with motor disabilities and visual impairments. The app is user firendly, even for people who are not that well acquainted with technology.

The main inspiration for the creation of the app was the everyday struggle that the people, with the disabilities mentioned before, have to go through in order to complete even the most mundane tasks, which to most of us seem simple enough. It is almost impossible for people who are using a wheelchair , to find a safe way of transport, especially when they prefer to be transported individually. Same goes for the people with visual impermaints who do not wish to have a chaperone, to accompany them every step of the way.

The app offers three fundamental functions that make it stand out from the rest transportation apps. It uses a speech to text feature which detects the human language and responds in the same way, reading the text that was sent from the app, out loud to the user. All of the functions that would be normally done by pressing the screen of your smartphone or tablet, can be achieved just by voice commands, and also the apps algorithm , memorises any previous commands that were given by the user, so that they don’t start from zero everytime.

The steps that the user has to follow, in order to complete and action through the app are incredibly simple. Log in or sign up to the app, if it is the first time using it, enter both the pick up and the drop off address, all through voice commands. The app proceeds to find the best available driver, while providing the user with all the information needed, including information from the driver’s profile, his exact location , at any point of the trip and how far is the taxi from the pick up point. All these are provided to the user through audio.

The use of the application , guarantees personal space and a sense of independence to the user, While also, offering them a non stressfull ride, boosting their sense of confidence and autonomy and finding them a solution for a constantly available way of transport.

In order to determine if there is a demand for a service like this in the market, we conducted interviews with potential users, as well as surveys that helped us understand the place of such an application among our competitors. One thing that was threatening for us while creating the app, was the possible improvement and adaptation of the already existing apps, such as TaxiBeat, TaxiPlon, Easy-Taxi and TAXI 18300, on national level.

However, Auxi, apart from the use of voice command technologies, is distinguished for the recruitment of professionally trained taxi drivers, who know how to interact with the clients, and cater to their special needs, while also making their trip as pleasant as possible. It also stands out because of the sense of security it offers to the passengers. Secondary features that are offered to the users, include the ability to select whichever kind of music or playlist they like, again through voice commands.

The application covers a radius that includes Athens and Thessaloniki and is targeted towards people with motor or visual disabilities, regardless of gender, 16–70 years old. The user will be asked to cover a fee for using specific services, which will be used to cover expenses such as car insurance, driver training, platform costs, car maintenance, and the payment of marketing services.

The means by which the application will be promoted, include online advertising, offline promotion, and mainly social media, which we will be mostly focused on.

Our main purpose is to achieve maximum functionality, considering that this is an audio based taxi application, while also exceeding the user’s expectations, so that one of his basic needs, such as transportation, can be covered, while mainting a normal daily life.

Thank you for your time!

Ελλη Κοντεου 41190144

Nastassia Kulenchyk 41190176

Αγγελικη Μπεσινη 41190085

Ιωαννης Μελεας 41190190

Αννα Μουρουζιδη 41190007