THE VISUAL COMMUNICATION NETWORK (VCN): A MODEL FOR SUCCESSFUL INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER

This paper presents the background and results of a Transport Canada project that has been a remarkably sound transportation research and development investment, and has been successfully transferred to the marketplace. The paper covers the history of the VCN project from conceptualization, through demonstration, to full system application in Canada an elsewhere. Developed and marketed by Telecite Inc. with assistance from several sources, primarily Transport Canada through the Transportation Development Centre (TDC), the VCN is a unique communication system providing real-time information inside transit vehicle. TDC's desicions to support Telecite, with funding intended to develop accessible transport for disabled and elderly persons, is an example of an enabling attitide to R&D proposals. In this case, the VCN not only succeeded, its original concept was improved, and all public transit travellers have benefited. An enabling approach to project selection, combined with an open-minded evaluation using a few critical criteria, can do much to make Canada competitive. For the covering abstract of this conference, see IRRD number 854079. (A)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/1895102545
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Association of Canada (TAC)

  401-1111 Prince of Wales Drive
  Ottawa, Ontario  Canada 
• Authors:
  • Smith, T
  • Suen, L
• Conference:
  • TRANSPORTATION AND NATIONAL PROSPERITY - PROCEEDINGS OF THE 1993 ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION OF CANADA, OTTAWA, ONTARIO, SEPTEMBER 19 TO 22, 1993, VOLUME 5
• Publication Date: 1993

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: B33-B41

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Accessibility; Communications; Computer programs; Conferences; Evaluation and assessment; Information display systems; Intelligent transportation systems; Persons with disabilities; Public transit; Subways; Visual display units
• Uncontrolled Terms: Use; Visual display
• Geographic Terms: Canada
• ITRD Terms: 9139: Accessibility; 8018: Canada; 8531: Case study; 9098: Communication; 8525: Conference; 1726: Disabled person; 9020: Evaluation (assessment); 744: Public transport; 8645: Software; 1191: Underground railway; 9084: Use; 8630: Visual display
• Subject Areas: Operations and Traffic Management; Public Transportation; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00662108
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transportation Association of Canada (TAC)
• ISBN: 1-895102-54-5
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: Jul 28 1994 12:00AM