From Proof of Concept to Public Trial
- Grace Covey
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
The Journey Behind Auckland Transport and Kara technologies NZSL Train Alerts
NZSL translation of the blog
In 2024, Auckland Transport’s Public Transport Accessibility Group (PTAG) identified ongoing accessibility barriers many Deaf and Hard of Hearing NZSL users face across public transport systems.
Announcements are often audio-only, while written disruption updates are difficult to access in NZSL within a timely manner.
Auckland Transport partnered with Kara Technologies to explore how AI-powered digital human technology could help improve accessible real-time communication for public transport users. Early on, the importance of ensuring Deaf community engagement from the start and not as an afterthought was paramount to the integrity of the project and real use case.
What began as a small Proof of Concept using older train announcements translated into NZSL MP4 videos to gather feedback and iterative improvements lead by the Deaf community has since evolved into a live three-month trial of NZSL train disruption notifications on Auckland’s Western train line.
From the beginning, the project focused heavily on co-design and community partnership.
Through PTAG meetings, surveys, workshops, accessibility testing, and public engagement sessions, the Deaf community helped shape the direction of the project.
Feedback influenced:
Sign choices and grammar
Avatar appearance
Background colours
Facial expressions
Visual accessibility
Use of te reo Māori NZSL concept signs
Place names and transport terminology
One clear example involved the original pink background used during PoC 1. Community feedback identified that the colour created visual strain and made the signer harder to watch. Auckland Transport later agreed to move to a blue background to improve accessibility.
As the project evolved, the avatar itself also changed.
The original male avatar was replaced through a collaborative co-design process, eventually becoming a woman named Tūī, chosen by the Deaf community through a public vote at the Auckland Deaf Festival 2025 at Auckland Deaf Society.
The project has also worked closely with Māori Deaf community members to support culturally appropriate NZSL usage, including moving toward well-known Māori NZSL concept signs for place names such as Onehunga, and Manukau.
One phrase has guided the project throughout: Move at the speed of trust.
This phrase was used in a previous case study Kara had done and Kara sees this phrase as an integral part of all their work.
Rather than rushing deployment, Auckland Transport and Kara Technologies intentionally approached the project as an evolving accessibility initiative grounded in listening, iteration, and transparency.
The upcoming live trial is not being presented as a perfect final system. Instead, it is being framed as an opportunity for the community to use the technology in real-world situations and continue shaping its future development.
The project also represents something broader.
Kara believes this project represents one of the most advanced applications of AI-generated signed language in public transport globally, dynamically translating live operational alerts into NZSL and delivering them directly through the Auckland Transport app.
Unlike static or templated translations, the long-term goal is to support dynamic real-time public transport communication as disruptions and announcements change.
Throughout the live trial, Auckland Transport and Kara Technologies will continue holding:
Community engagement events
Public demonstrations
Open feedback surveys
Accessibility workshops
User testing opportunities
The goal is not simply to launch technology. The goal is to continue building accessibility together with the Deaf community.
To read more about the project or get involved to provide feedback go to:
