San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) July 28, 2014
Schindler Elevator Corporation, a pioneer in building mobility, has partnered with the Independent Living Resource Center in San Francisco (ILRCSF) to pilot the next generation of features for PORT Technology, an innovative destination-dispatching system that revolutionized the way people move through buildings.
The Independent Living Resource Center San Francisco (ILRCSF) is a disability rights advocacy and support organization that works to ensure that people with disabilities are full social and economic partners, both within their families and in a fully accessible community.
Schindler announced at the grand opening of ILRCSF’s new headquarters on July 26th that it has agreed to provide the latest PORT Technology terminals at the 825 Howard Street offices in downtown San Francisco. ILRCSF will act as a pilot site to bring real-time insight into the accessibility features of PORT Technology, and the ability to provide access control and other personalized features for people with disabilities.
Over two decades ago, Schindler introduced Miconic® 10, the first destination-dispatching elevator system in the industry, and the most efficient stand-alone method of moving passengers vertically through a building available at the time. During the ensuing years the focus has expanded from simply groups of elevators to a holistic approach where access and guidance play an equally critical role in what is now termed the Transit Management of a building. Now, Schindler’s new partnership with ILRCSF creates the opportunity to continue developing industry-leading technology, pushing the boundaries of Transit Management systems through real-time prototype testing and feedback.
“When Schindler Elevator introduced destination-dispatching technology to the U.S. elevator market, our vision was to create a new world of possibilities for the way people move in urban environments,” said Greg Ergenbright, president, Schindler Elevator Corporation. “Our PORT Technology took that vision further, bringing an even more personalized experience to urban mobility by accounting for an individual's needs with an unprecedented level of convenience and customization. In our partnership with ILRCSF, we’re pushing those boundaries even further, by leveraging their experiences and incorporating their feedback directly into the development process to create the next generation of accessibility technology.”
Launched in 2009, PORT Technology extended Schindler’s leadership in building mobility, making it the first company in the industry to introduce a third-generation destination-dispatch product to the market. Schindler PORT technology provides elevators with an advanced traffic management system featuring an intuitive touch-screen interface that functions as a communication system between the building and its occupants. Passengers select their desired floor before entering the cabin using the sleek touch screen, or a pre-programmed RFID card or device. The PORT system’s unique algorithm calculates the fastest time to destination and assigns the appropriate elevator, streamlining traffic flow, reducing wait times and allowing passengers to move through the building with added speed and convenience.
PORT Technology can be seamlessly integrated throughout a building to recognize each passenger individually and personalize service depending on their specific needs, offering unique potential for people with disabilities. Already capable of revolutionary mobility features such as providing verbal directions and additional time to reach an elevator or placing the elevator call to the cab closest to the lobby, Schindler’s partnership with ILRCSF will lead to entirely new feature sets specifically designed for and tested by the disabled community.
“We are thrilled to have been chosen by Schindler as a testing ground for their amazing technology,” says Jessie Lorenz, executive director of the Independent Living Resource Center. “We are taking independent living into the 21st century – where better to do this, than San Francisco, and who better to have as a partner and a supporter, than Schindler – a company that has exhibited a sincere commitment to ease-of-use and accessibility.”
About Schindler Elevator Corporation
Schindler Elevator Corporation is the North American operation of the Switzerland-based Schindler Group, a leading global mobility provider with approximately 48,000 employees operating in more than 100 countries. Schindler supports sustainable urban development with safe, reliable and ecologically sound mobility solutions and its equipment moves one billion people every day all over the world. Schindler was named one of Forbes Magazine’s 100 Most Innovative Companies for the past three years. For additional information about Schindler Elevator Corporation, visit the company’s Web site at http://www.us.schindler.com.