The main purpose of this project undertaken by the Carlos III University in Madrid is to further reduce the current barriers of labour integration by proposing an innovative solution that, in addition to reducing such barriers, also entails advantages for people at risk to social exclusion. This framework is an attempt to provide access to a group of people with functional diversity.
The goals for this project are:
- Develop a visible LED-based communications systems based on low-cost LEDs capable of conveying useful coded information to be processed by the user in an environment of logistics activities.
- The user can capture this information comfortably and without having to interact by making use of a small optical receptor that captures visible light and decodes the data/information sent by the transmitter.
- This receptor could be embedded in an inserted flexible system such as a wearable on the employee's own clothing.
- This system can be incorporated immediately into the workstation of the person with functional diversity and accurately transmits the necessary information about the stored product.
The system will thus help improve efficiency during the training period and daily performance of professionals with physical, mental or learning impairments, and therefore their labour integration and quality of life.
This type of communication has its advantages over other wireless technologies such as WiFi, Bluetooth, RFID, etc., in that it is safe in terms of the health of the user and cheap because it uses the basic lighting infrastructure of the building and cost-effective optical and electrical components that are easily to acquire and replace. It is a system confined to the area that the LED illuminates with no interference with any other wireless communications systems such as the ones mentioned above, and no need for previous authorisation for installation because it uses the free part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
The potential group of beneficiaries could include immigrants with language difficulties to whom the system can convey discrete and personalised instructions so they can efficiently undertake their tasks. The solution could also be a valid instrument for users with some type of hearing impairment to whom messages can be sent and appear on the screen of a portable device.
In fact, LIGHT ACCESS LOGISTICS is an effort for integration and equality for everyone and in respect of the right to labour integration.