XRAI
XRAI develops accessibility technology that uses artificial intelligence to improve communication and inclusion. Through the Scaling Innovation Programme, XRAI developed.
XRAI Rugged, an offline captioning and translation system designed to make public transport announcements accessible to deaf, hard of hearing and multilingual passengers. The project explored how real-time captions and translations could be delivered reliably on buses, trains and transport networks, even in locations with poor or no internet connectivity.
The Challenge
For many deaf and hard of hearing passengers, important transport information is often inaccessible. Announcements about stops, delays, platform changes, diversions and safety messages are frequently delivered through audio-only systems, creating barriers to independent travel and confidence when using public transport.
Existing captioning solutions typically rely on cloud-based services and a continuous internet connection. However, buses and trains regularly operate in environments where connectivity is unreliable, including tunnels, rural routes and areas with poor mobile coverage. This means information can become unavailable precisely when passengers need it most.
XRAI recognised an opportunity to develop a solution that would remove this barrier by ensuring critical transport information remains accessible regardless of network conditions.
The Solution
XRAI Rugged is an offline accessibility appliance that captures spoken announcements and instantly converts them into captions and translations.
Unlike conventional cloud-based systems, all speech processing takes place directly on the device installed within a vehicle or transport environment. Captions can then be delivered to passenger displays or personal devices through a local network, ensuring reliable access to information without requiring an internet connection.
The system supports more than 100 languages and has been designed to provide near real-time communication, enabling passengers to receive information as it is announced. This creates a more accessible and inclusive experience for deaf and hard of hearing passengers, while also benefiting international travellers and others who may face communication barriers.
Through the Scaling Innovation Programme, the team successfully developed the software architecture, offline processing capabilities and local broadcasting platform needed to make the concept viable in transport environments.
Putting Disabled People at the Centre
Meaningful involvement was central to the project.
XRAI is a deaf-led organisation, with accessibility embedded within the company’s leadership and decision-making. Throughout the project, deaf and hard of hearing users were actively involved in testing and refining the technology. Their feedback helped shape priorities around caption speed, reliability, accuracy and usability.
Users tested the system in home-based environments and provided ongoing feedback through accessible communication channels. This iterative approach allowed the team to understand what mattered most in real-world use.
A key finding from user engagement was that reliability and responsiveness were more important than achieving perfect transcription accuracy. Participants consistently preferred captions that appeared immediately and continuously rather than waiting longer for marginally more accurate text. These insights directly informed technical development and system design.
The project also strengthened the organisation’s leadership team through the appointment of a new Chief Technology Officer, who is autistic and played a significant role in delivering the solution.
Impact
The project successfully demonstrated that real-time captioning and translation can operate entirely offline within transport environments. XRAI achieved response times of less than one fifth of a second while maintaining the performance needed for real-world deployment.
The project advanced the technology from proof of concept to trial-ready status, creating a solution that is now ready for live operational testing with transport providers. Without the Scaling Innovation Programme, the company estimates that development would have taken more than two additional years.
Beyond the technology itself, the project demonstrates a different approach to accessibility. Rather than treating accessible communication as an optional service, XRAI Rugged positions it as part of the transport infrastructure itself, ensuring information is available consistently to all passengers.
The solution also has wider potential benefits for multilingual passengers and visitors who may otherwise struggle to access important travel information.
Key Insights and Learning
The project highlighted the importance of designing accessibility solutions around real-world environments rather than ideal operating conditions.
Testing demonstrated that internet-dependent systems are unlikely to provide the consistency required in transport settings. This insight led the team to redesign the solution so that speech recognition, translation and caption delivery all occur locally on the device itself.
The project also reinforced the value of involving disabled people throughout development. User feedback shaped major technical decisions and helped the team focus on delivering outcomes that improve confidence, access to information and independent travel.
What Happens Next?
The next stage of development is to pilot XRAI Rugged in live transport environments.
XRAI is seeking opportunities to work with bus operators, rail organisations and transport authorities to test the system in real-world settings and gather operational feedback. Partnership discussions are already underway with industry organisations and accessibility technology providers.
Future development will focus on reducing hardware costs, expanding accessibility features and integrating emerging technologies such as Auracast, which could allow passengers to receive synchronised captions and audio directly through hearing aids, headsets and mobile devices.
By combining artificial intelligence, accessibility expertise and lived experience, XRAI Rugged demonstrates how technology can help remove communication barriers and create more accessible, inclusive and independent journeys for all passengers.
For more information about XRAI products
To find out more about XRAI products visit their website linked here
To download the XRAI App visit the App store via this link