Parastral features for elevator operation

Abstract

A person movement system is provided and includes: a person movement element for transporting a passenger from one location to another; a controller configured to control an operation of the person moving element according to the received signal; and a touch screen interface operably disposed at the entrance / exit of the personnel movement element. The touch screen interface is operable in at least a first mode and a second mode to send the signal to the controller and is configured to transition between the first mode and the second mode.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to people moving systems, and in particular, to a narration feature for operation of people moving systems such as elevator systems, escalator systems, and moving walkway systems. BACKGROUND

[0002] In particular, in elevator systems, elevator shafts are built into a building, and elevator cars travel up and down the elevator shafts to reach landing doors of different floors of the building. Movement of the elevator is driven by a machine, which is controlled by a controller according to instructions received from users of the elevator system. During operating conditions, a passenger will typically reach an elevator landing in the building, press a call button, and wait for the elevator to arrive. Once the elevator arrives and its doors open, the passenger will enter the elevator and select a destination floor. The doors close, and the elevator travels up or down to the selected floor, where the passenger exits.

[0003] Use of elevators, escalators, and moving walkways can typically pose challenges for passengers with special needs. Blind passengers can not be able to see elevators, escalators, and moving walkways, their respective landings, or their respective buttons. Passengers with mobility issues can not be able to enter and exit elevators in time as the doors open or close. Even for passengers without special needs, locating elevators, escalators, and moving walkways in a given building can be difficult, especially where only certain elevators, escalators, and moving walkways serve certain floors or other designated areas. SUMMARY

[0004] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a people moving system is provided and includes a people moving element for transporting passengers from one location to another, a controller configured to control operation of the people moving element according to received signals, and a touch screen interface operably disposed at an entrance / exit of the people moving element. The touch screen interface is operable in at least a first mode and a second mode to send the signals to the controller, and is configured to transition between the first mode and the second mode.

[0005] According to additional or alternative embodiments, the first mode is a mode in which the touch screen is operated by touch, and the second mode is a voice mode in which the touch screen is operated by touch, no touch, and re-touch, or by voice commands in response to audible cues.

[0006] According to additional or alternative embodiments, the personnel moving element is an elevator car, and the touch screen interface includes: a touch screen; first actuatable elements disposed in the touch screen; and a voice mode activator. The touch screen interface is actuatable or pressed by the voice mode activator or is operable in the second mode by a voice command.

[0007] According to additional or alternative embodiments, the touch screen interface automatically switches back to operating in the first mode.

[0008] According to additional or alternative embodiments, the controller continues to control operation of the personnel moving element to support blind and / or visually impaired passengers after the touch screen interface automatically switches back to operating in the first mode.

[0009] According to additional or alternative embodiments, one or more haptic indicators at least haptically point to the voice mode activator.

[0010] According to additional or alternative embodiments, a subset of the first actuatable elements includes floor actuatable elements, and each of the floor actuatable elements is actuatable or pressable to initiate an elevator call with the touch screen interface operating in the first mode.

[0011] According to additional or alternative embodiments, the personnel moving system further includes a speaker, and the speaker emits the audible cue when each of the first actuatable elements is touched with the touch screen interface operating in the second mode.

[0012] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a personnel moving system is provided and includes: a personnel moving element for transporting passengers from one location to another location; a controller configured to control operation of the personnel moving element in accordance with received signals; and a touch screen interface operably disposed at an entrance / exit of the personnel moving element. The touch screen interface is operable to send the signals to the controller at least in a first mode and a second mode, and is configured to transition between the first mode and the second mode, the first mode being characterized as a mode in which the touch screen is operated by touch, and the second mode being characterized as a voice mode for supporting use by blind and / or visually impaired passengers, in which the touch screen is operated by touch, no touch, and re-touch or by a voice command in response to an audible cue.

[0013] According to additional or alternative embodiments, the personnel moving element is an elevator car, and the touch screen interface includes: a touch screen; a first actuatable element disposed in the touch screen; and a voice mode activator. The touch screen interface is actuatable or pressed by the voice mode activator or is operable in the second mode by a voice command.

[0014] According to additional or alternative embodiments, the touch screen interface automatically switches back to operating in the first mode.

[0015] According to additional or alternative embodiments, the controller continues to control operation of the personnel moving element to support a blind passenger after the touch screen interface automatically switches back to operating in the first mode.

[0016] According to additional or alternative embodiments, the personnel moving system further includes one or more tactile indicators for at least tactilely pointing to the voice mode activator.

[0017] According to additional or alternative embodiments, a subset of the first actuatable elements includes floor actuatable elements, and each of the floor actuatable elements is actuatable or pressable to initiate an elevator call with the touch screen interface operating in the first mode.

[0018] According to additional or alternative embodiments, the personnel moving system further includes a speaker, and the speaker emits the audible cue when each of the first actuatable elements is touched with the touch screen interface operating in the second mode.

[0019] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an elevator system is provided and includes: an elevator car; a controller configured to control operation of the elevator car according to received signals; and a touch screen interface operably disposed at an entrance / exit of the elevator car. The touch screen interface is operable to send the signals to the controller at least in a first mode and a second mode, and is configured to transition between the first mode and the second mode, the first mode being characterized as a mode in which the touch screen is operated by touch, and the second mode being characterized as a voice mode for supporting use by blind and / or visually impaired passengers, in which the touch screen is operated by touch, no touch, and re-touch or by a voice command in response to an audible cue.

[0020] According to additional or alternative embodiments, the touch screen interface includes: a touch screen; first actuatable elements disposed in the touch screen; a voice mode activator; and one or more haptic pointers for haptically pointing to the voice mode activator. The touch screen interface is operable in the second mode by the voice mode activator being actuated or pressed or by a voice command, and automatically switches back to operating in the first mode.

[0021] According to additional or alternative embodiments, the controller continues to control operation of the personnel movement element to support a blind passenger after the touch screen interface automatically switches back to operating in the first mode.

[0022] According to additional or alternative embodiments, a subset of the first actuatable elements includes floor actuatable elements, and each of the floor actuatable elements is actuatable or pressable to initiate an elevator call with the touch screen interface operating in the first mode.

[0023] According to additional or alternative embodiments, the personnel movement system further includes a speaker, and the speaker emits the audible cue when each of the first actuatable elements is touched with the touch screen interface operating in the second mode.

[0024] Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the concepts claimed. For a better understanding of the disclosure with the advantages and the features, refer to the description and to the drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0025] For a fuller understanding of the present disclosure, reference is now made to the following brief description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and detailed description, wherein like elements are numbered alike: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an elevator system according to an embodiment; Figure 2 is a schematic view of a touch screen interface according to an embodiment; Figure 3 is a graphical illustration of a passenger approaching an elevator bank according to an embodiment; and Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating a touch screen interface according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Blind and low-vision people can use smartphones and other touch screen devices that use various applications designed for people with vision problems or visual impairments. These applications include, but are not limited to, VoiceOver TM and TalkBack TM applications. Unlike smartphones, public touch devices (e.g., public touch devices on elevators, escalators, and moving walkways, as well as on certain kiosks or touch screen products) can not have applications designed for people with vision problems or visual impairments installed therein and configured to the needs of each user. Therefore, it is necessary to make public touch devices intuitively usable for both sighted and blind users.

[0027] Therefore, as will be described below, public touch devices are at least equipped with a first mode and a second mode, between which a user can easily switch. Typically, the user interface of a public touch device of an elevator system operates, for example, in a "non-voice mode", in which actuating or pressing an actuatable element or button (hereinafter referred to as "actuatable element") displayed on the screen directly sends a call message for a call of an elevator. For blind and / or visually impaired users, the touch screen can be accompanied by an additional "voice actuatable element", which, when actuated, switches the user interface to a "voice mode" for the remainder of the transaction. There can also be measures (e.g., haptics, wording, etc.) for helping blind and / or visually impaired people find the voice actuatable element or allowing disabled people to initiate and subsequently use the "voice mode" using a wording command (i.e., "initiate voice mode", "please proceed to voice mode", etc.). Once in voice mode, the touch screen does not immediately send a call, but allows the user to move their finger over the screen, which (as will be described below, it can be set as a touch screen) "reads" the actuatable elements or prompts that the user's finger passes over and / or uses further audio commands. As an example, to activate an actuatable element, the user lifts their finger and actuates or presses the same area a second time while "voice mode" is active. After the transaction is completed (e.g., the user has selected a floor) and the user has been given confirmation feedback, the interface can automatically switch back to non-voice mode. Furthermore, even after the voice mode transaction is completed, the elevator control can continue to support blind and / or visually impaired users until the end of the elevator journey, for example, by providing audio prompts to find the correct elevator, and by informing of arrival at the destination.

[0028] An exemplary configuration of a public touch device for an elevator system includes, for example: a touch interface; measures for switching to a “voice mode” (e.g., an actuated element and / or a microphone); a user interface having at least a non-voice mode and a voice mode, wherein in the non-voice mode, a touch-displayed actuated element directly activates the actuated element, and in the voice mode, a touch-displayed actuated element reads the actuated element; a user interface wherein, in the voice mode, a second touch of the same displayed actuated element activates the actuated element; and optionally, a user interface that switches back to the non-voice mode after a transaction is completed, after a timeout, or after the actuated element is actuated or pressed.

[0029] The following description will relate to personnel movement systems, particularly elevator systems. This is done for clarity and brevity and should not be construed as limiting the specification or the appended claims in any way. It should also be understood that other personnel movement systems may include, but are not limited to, escalator systems and moving walkway systems, all of which will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art without any excessive experimentation. Therefore, any references in the following description should be interpreted as relating to elevator systems, escalator systems, moving walkway systems, counters for Uber calls, train counters, other similar systems, and / or personnel movement systems in general.

[0030] refer to Figure 1 This is a perspective view of an elevator system 101, which includes an elevator car 103, a counterweight 105, a tension member 107, guide rails 109, a machine 111, a position reference system 113, and a controller 115. The elevator car 103 and the counterweight 105 are connected to each other via the tension member 107. The tension member 107 may include or be configured as, for example, ropes, cables, and / or coated steel strips. The counterweight 105 is configured to balance the load of the elevator car 103 and to facilitate simultaneous and opposite movement of the elevator car 103 relative to the counterweight 105 within the elevator shaft 117 and along the guide rails 109.

[0031] Tension member 107 engages machine 111, which is part of the overhead structure of elevator system 101. Machine 111 is configured to control movement between elevator car 103 and counterweight 105. Position reference system 113 may be mounted on a fixed portion at the top of elevator shaft 117, such as on a bearing or guide rail, and may be configured to provide a position signal relating to the position of elevator car 103 within elevator shaft 117. In other embodiments, position reference system 113 may be directly mounted to a moving component of machine 111, or may be positioned in other locations and / or configurations as known in the art. As known in the art, position reference system 113 can be any device or mechanism for monitoring the position of elevator car and / or counterweight. For example, and not limitingly, as those skilled in the art will appreciate, position reference system 113 can be an encoder, sensor, or other system, and can include speed sensing, absolute position sensing, etc.

[0032] As shown, controller 115 can be located in controller room 121 of elevator shaft 117 and configured to control the operation of elevator system 101 and, in particular, the operation of elevator car 103. It should be understood that controller 115 does not need to be in controller room 121, but can be in the elevator shaft or other locations within the elevator system. For example, controller 115 can provide drive signals to machine 111 to control the acceleration, deceleration, leveling, stopping, etc., of elevator car 103. Controller 115 can also be configured to receive position signals from position reference system 113 or any other desired position reference device. As the elevator car 103 moves up or down along guide rail 109 within elevator shaft 117, it can stop at one or more landings 125 as controlled by controller 115. Although shown in controller room 121, those skilled in the art will appreciate that controller 115 can be located and / or configured in other locations or positions within elevator system 101. In one embodiment, controller 115 may be remotely located or located within a distributed computing network (e.g., a cloud computing architecture). Controller 115 may be implemented using a processor-based machine (e.g., a personal computer, server, distributed computing network, etc.).

[0033] Machine 111 may include a motor or similar drive mechanism. According to embodiments of this disclosure, machine 111 is configured to include an electrically driven motor. The motor is powered by a variable speed drive, which is generally referred to as a drive. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the drive includes several circuits, such as an inverter, rectifier stage, filter, and control circuitry, to control the motor. Machine 111 may include traction pulleys that transmit force to tension member 107 to move elevator car 103 within elevator shaft 117.

[0034] Elevator system 101 also includes one or more elevator doors. The elevator doors may be integrally attached to elevator car 103 or positioned on a landing 125 of elevator system 101, or both. The embodiments disclosed herein may be applied to elevator doors integrally attached to elevator car 103 or positioned on a landing 125 of elevator system 101, or both. The elevator doors open to allow passengers to enter and exit elevator car 103.

[0035] Although illustrated and described with a rope system including tension member 107, embodiments of this disclosure may be used in elevator systems employing other methods and mechanisms for moving the elevator car within the elevator shaft. For example, embodiments may be used in cordless elevator systems using linear motors to transmit motion to the elevator car. Embodiments may also be used in cordless elevator systems using hydraulic lifts to transmit motion to the elevator car. Embodiments may also be employed in cordless elevator systems using self-propelled elevator cars (e.g., elevator cars equipped with friction wheels, clamping wheels, or traction sheaves, escalator assemblies, and moving walkways). Figure 1 These are non-restrictive examples presented for illustrative and explanatory purposes only.

[0036] Continue to refer to Figure 1 And refer to other sources Figure 2 The touchscreen interface 201 is configured as a public touch device for use with personnel mobility systems (e.g., Figure 1 This is used in conjunction with the elevator system 101, escalator system, and moving walkway system, including controller 115. The touchscreen interface 201 typically operates in a first or non-voice mode, which may be, but is not required to be, the default setting for the touchscreen interface 201. The touchscreen interface 201 also typically operates in a second or voice mode to support signals sent by blind and / or visually impaired passengers to controller 115, which then controls the operation of elevator system 101 and its(one or more) elevator cars 103. In non-voice mode, actuating or pressing "3" can actuate elements, for example, to the controller (e.g.,...). Figure 1 The controller 115 sends a “floor 3” call. In voice mode, the blind and / or visually impaired user hears an auditory cue, such as a floor number notification (e.g., “floor 3”) when he / she moves his / her finger over an actuated element, or a notification associated with any other actuated element that his / her finger moves over. If the blind and / or visually impaired user wants to call floor 3, he / she simply removes his / her finger from the selected actuated element in response to the auditory cue and then touches or actuates or presses the same area again.

[0037] like Figure 2As shown, the touchscreen interface 201 includes a touchscreen 210 in which a first actuable element 211 is deployed, a bezel area 220 surrounding the touchscreen 210, and optionally, a speaker 230 and a microphone 240, which may be disposed in the bezel area 220 or another area of ​​the touchscreen interface 201. The first actuable element 211 may include various types of actuable elements, including but not limited to a home actuable element 2111, an access control actuable element 2112, a menu actuable element 2113, a user profile actuable element 2114, and a help actuable element 2115. A subset of the first actuable element 211 may also include a set of floor actuable elements 2116. The touchscreen interface 201 also includes a voice mode activator 221, which, when actuated, pressed, or touched, instructs the touchscreen interface 201 (and in some cases, the elevator system 101 as a whole) to initiate or switch to voice mode. Haptic indicators 222, 223 can be set and configured to tactilely guide the fingers of blind and / or visually impaired users toward the voice mode activator 221 or toward another actuated element, and / or provide a light push of the user's finger from the inactive area of ​​the touchscreen 210 toward the active area of ​​the touchscreen 210.

[0038] In some cases, haptic indicators 222, 223 may be supplemented with auditory instructions on how to operate the touchscreen interface 201 (i.e., via notification messages such as “Please select your destination floor by moving your finger on the screen until you hear your destination floor or counter function, and then lift your finger and press the button again”).

[0039] According to embodiments, the floor actuation element 211, the voice mode activator 221, and one or more tactile indicators 222, 223 can be configured as actual tactile actuation elements and / or virtual actuation elements displayed on the touchscreen interface 201. In the latter case, in particular, the arrangement of the first actuation element 211, the voice mode activator 221, and one or more tactile indicators 222, 223 can be varied and adjustable. For example, in some, but not all, embodiments, the voice mode activator 221 and the tactile indicators 222, 223 can be disposed in the border area 220.

[0040] Continue to refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 And refer to other sources. Figure 3 In some cases, especially where the user has registered with elevator system 101 and has a user profile identifying the user as blind and / or visually impaired, the user may not need to actuate or press voice mode activator 221 to enter voice mode. For example... Figure 3As shown, in these or other situations, the user can use voice commands. Furthermore, in these or other situations, when the user moves towards elevator group 301, Figure 1 The elevator system 101 uses one or more detection features 302 to identify the proximity of a user to the elevator group 301, and uses one or more identification features 303 to identify the user. The one or more detection features 302 may include, but are not limited to, LiDAR, RADAR, millimeter-wave detection, and optical detectors. The one or more identification features 303 may include, but are not limited to, facial recognition features and credential recognition features. In any case, once a user has been detected near the elevator group 301 and identified as blind and / or visually impaired, the controller 115 of the elevator system 101 (see [link to relevant documentation])... Figure 1 It can then automatically command Figure 2 The touchscreen 210 initiates voice mode without actuating or pressing the voice mode activator 221.

[0041] Normally or otherwise, the touchscreen 210 operates in non-voice mode, which may, but is not required, be the default setting for visible users. In non-voice mode, the user actuates or presses one of the floor-operable elements 2116 to... Figure 1 The controller 115 sends a call message, and then the controller 115 dispatches the elevator car 103. For blind and / or visually impaired users, the touchscreen 210 operating mode can be switched or converted to voice mode by the user using voice commands or by the user actuating or pressing the voice mode activator 221, and if necessary, following one or more tactile indicators 222, 223 to the voice mode activator 221, and / or via the controller 115 of the elevator system 101 (see [link]). Figure 1 The touchscreen 210 can be operated automatically in voice mode.

[0042] In any case, once the touchscreen interface 201 is operated in voice mode, touching the touchscreen 210 (i.e., one of the floor actuation elements 2116) will not immediately initiate a call. Instead, voice mode allows the user or passenger to move their finger along the surface of the touchscreen 210, and the touchscreen 210 reads the floor actuation element 2116 or any other actuation element or prompt that the user's finger passes over, and the speaker 230 outputs an auditory prompt (i.e., a notification of "Floor 3" when the user's finger passes over the floor actuation element 211 for floor 3, or another notification associated with another actuation element or another area of ​​the touchscreen 210 (e.g., the location where the user's finger passes over the welcome message). To activate a specific floor actuation element 2116, the user lifts his / her finger in response to the auditory prompt and actuates, presses, or re-touches the same area, or a voice command can be used. After the transaction is completed (e.g., the user has selected a floor) and confirmation feedback has been given to the user, the touchscreen 210 can automatically switch back to non-voice mode. Even after the voice-mode transaction is completed, the controller 115 of the elevator system 101 can continue to direct the elevator controls to support blind and / or visually impaired users until the end of the elevator journey, for example by providing audio prompts to find the correct elevator and by notifying them of arrival at the destination.

[0043] According to another embodiment, switching to voice mode can be accomplished by actuating or pressing the voice mode activator 221 and / or by a voice command via the microphone 240. Furthermore, with the aid of the microphone 240, the user can virtually "explore" the touchscreen interface 211. For example, a blind user might not know that there are two restaurant floors, such as floors 11 and 12, but by virtually "exploring" the touchscreen interface 211 using voice commands via the microphone, the user can hear "Floor 11, lower restaurant floor" when touching the actuated element of floor 11, and "Floor 12, higher restaurant floor" when touching the actuated element of floor 12.

[0044] refer to Figure 4 It provides a solution for touchscreen interfaces (e.g.) Figure 2 The operation method 400 of the touch screen interface 201 is provided for use with personnel movement systems or elevator systems (e.g., Figure 1 The elevator system 101 and controller 115 are used together. Figure 4As shown, the operation method 400 includes operating the touch screen interface in a first non-voice mode (block 401), receiving instructions to operate the touch screen interface in a second voice mode via a user's touch or voice command (block 402), operating the touch screen interface in the second voice mode (block 403), recognizing that the touch screen interface is being touched, for example, at a floor actuating element, or that the user is inputting a command via a voice command (block 404), issuing an auditory prompt corresponding to the touched actuating element or the voice command (block 405), and, in the case that the touched actuating element is a floor actuating element, or in the case that the voice command is a voice call command, in response to the touch screen interface not being touched at the floor actuating element and being touched again, initiating a call (block 406).

[0045] The technical effect and benefit of this disclosure is to provide a public touch screen interface for users of elevators, escalators, and / or moving walkways, which is intuitive for both sighted users (without change from current operation) and blind and / or visually impaired users. The public touch screen interface can be easily switched or converted between at least two interface modes (i.e., voice mode and non-voice mode).

[0046] All components or steps plus functional elements in the following claims are intended to include corresponding structures, materials, actions, and equivalents for performing functions in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of this disclosure has been presented for illustrative and descriptive purposes, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the technical concepts of the disclosed forms. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of this disclosure. Embodiments have been chosen and described to best explain the principles and practical application of this disclosure and to enable others skilled in the art to understand the disclosure of various embodiments with various modifications as suited to the particular intended use.

[0047] Although preferred embodiments of this disclosure have been described, it will be understood that various modifications and enhancements falling within the scope of the following claims can be made now and in the future by those skilled in the art. These claims should be construed as maintaining appropriate protection for the disclosure first described.

Claims

1. A people moving system comprising: a people moving element for transporting passengers from one location to another; a controller configured to control operation of the people moving element in accordance with received signals; and a touch screen interface operatively disposed at an entrance / exit of the people moving element, the touch screen interface being operable to send the signals to the controller in at least a first mode and a second mode, and configured to transition between the first mode and the second mode.

2. The people moving system of claim 1, wherein: the first mode is a mode in which the touch screen is operated by touch, and the second mode is a voice mode in which the touch screen is operated by touch, no touch, and re-touch or by a voice command in response to an audible cue.

3. The people moving system of claim 2, wherein, the people moving element is an elevator car, and the touch screen interface comprises: a touch screen; first actuatable elements disposed in the touch screen; and a voice mode activator, wherein the touch screen interface is operable in the second mode by the voice mode activator being actuated or pressed or by a voice command.

4. The people movement system of claim 3, wherein, the touch screen interface automatically switches back to operating in the first mode.

5. The people movement system of claim 4, wherein, the controller continues to control operation of the people moving element to support blind and / or visually impaired passengers after the touch screen interface automatically switches back to operating in the first mode.

6. The people moving system of claim 3, further comprising one or more tactile indicators for at least tactilely pointing to the voice mode activator.

7. The people movement system of claim 3, wherein, a subset of the first actuatable elements comprises floor actuatable elements, and each of the floor actuatable elements is actuatable or pressable to initiate an elevator call with the touch screen interface operating in the first mode.

8. The people moving system of claim 3, further comprising a speaker, wherein the speaker emits the audible cue when each of the first actuatable elements is touched with the touch screen interface operating in the second mode.

9. A people moving system comprising: a people moving element for transporting passengers from one location to another; a controller configured to control operation of the people moving element in accordance with received signals; and a touch screen interface operatively disposed at an entrance / exit of the people moving element, the touch screen interface being operable to send the signals to the controller in at least a first mode and a second mode, and configured to transition between the first mode and the second mode, the first mode being characterized as a mode in which the touch screen is operated by touch, and the second mode being characterized as a voice mode in which the touch screen is operated by touch, no touch, and re-touch or by a voice command in response to an audible cue. The second mode is characterized as a voice mode for supporting use by blind and / or visually impaired passengers, wherein the touchscreen is operated by touch, untouch, and retouch or by a voice command in response to an audible cue.

10. The people movement system of claim 9, wherein, The personnel movement element is an elevator car, and the touchscreen interface includes: a touchscreen; a first subset of actuatable elements disposed in the touchscreen; and a voice mode activator, wherein the touchscreen interface is operable in the second mode by the voice mode activator being actuated or pressed or by a voice command.

11. The people movement system of claim 10, wherein, The touchscreen interface automatically switches back to operating in the first mode.

12. The people movement system of claim 11, wherein, The controller continues to control operation of the personnel movement element to support blind passengers after the touchscreen interface automatically switches back to operating in the first mode.

13. The personnel movement system of claim 10, further comprising one or more tactile indicators for at least tactilely pointing to the voice mode activator.

14. The people movement system of claim 10, wherein, The first subset of actuatable elements includes floor actuatable elements, and each of the floor actuatable elements is actuatable or pressable to initiate an elevator call with the touchscreen interface operating in the first mode.

15. The personnel movement system of claim 10, further comprising a speaker, wherein The speaker emits the audible cue when each of the first actuatable elements is touched with the touchscreen interface operating in the second mode.

16. An elevator system, comprising: an elevator car; a controller configured to control operation of the elevator car as a function of a received signal; and a touchscreen interface operatively disposed at an entrance / exit of the elevator car, the touchscreen interface being operable to send the signal to the controller at least in a first mode and a second mode and configured to transition between the first mode and the second mode, the first mode being characterized as a mode in which the touchscreen is operated by touch, and the second mode being characterized as a voice mode for supporting use by blind and / or visually impaired passengers, wherein the touchscreen is operated by touch, untouch, and retouch or by a voice command in response to an audible cue.

17. The elevator system of claim 16, wherein, The touchscreen interface includes: a touchscreen; a first subset of actuatable elements disposed in the touchscreen; a voice mode activator; and one or more tactile indicators for tactilely pointing to the voice mode activator, wherein the touchscreen interface is operable in the second mode by the voice mode activator being actuated or pressed or by a voice command and automatically switches back to operating in the first mode.

18. The elevator system of claim 17, wherein, The controller continues to control operation of the personnel movement element to support blind passengers after the touchscreen interface automatically switches back to operating in the first mode.

19. The elevator system of claim 17, wherein, The subset of the first actuatable elements includes floor actuatable elements, and each of the floor actuatable elements is actuatable or depressible to initiate an elevator call with the touchscreen interface operating in the first mode.

20. The elevator system of claim 17, further comprising a speaker, wherein the speaker emits the audible cue when each of the first actuatable elements is touched with the touchscreen interface operating in the second mode.

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