INFORMATION ON BARRIER-FREE ACCESS BY MOBILE PHONE

The demographic trend in Japan indicates that as many as one in four citizens will be of senior age by 2015. In response to this rapidly aging society, the 'Law regarding transit to ensure and facilitate mobility for the elderly and the disabled' (a barrier-free traffic law) was passed in May 2000, fostering more deployment for a barrier-free society. The City of Kitakyushu designated the Kokura conurbation as a model district for a barrier-free community. All the communal facilities underwent a 'barrier-free inspection' both in a spot and an overall integration (eliminating varied floor levels, widening aisles, equipping with elevators) as well as being plotted to produce a 'barrier-free map.' The barrier-free map, where level floors without gaps are distinguished in color, indicates accessibility by wheelchair users. Due to the widespread use of mobile phones in Japan, especially mobile phones which are Internet-enabled similar to a home PC, pedestrians can access information wherever and whenever needed.