MTA, LIRR introduces 'talking kiosk' at Penn Station

New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) unveiled a "talking kiosk" to help the visually impaired and other customers navigate the concourses, passageways and platforms of Pennsylvania Station.

The kiosk features a touch-activated, tactile map of the station, vivid visual displays for the partially sighted and a voice designed for phonetic clarity. As a customer touches different parts of the map, the kiosk describes the corresponding location and gives directions of how to get there. It also offers general information about Penn Station and the LIRR.

The kiosk is the second permanent talking kiosk located on the LIRR concourse. The new version has expanded functionality and an improved user interface, a smaller size and a convenient wall-mounted position.