Skip to main content

T-Box annunciator

The T-Box, from Mentor Engineering, is a state-of-the-art text-to-speech voice annunciation device for fixed-route transit ITS solutions. It provides next-stop announcements and updates onboard LED signs for riders inside the bus. Outside the vehicle, T-Box identifies the route and destination to passengers waiting at a stop when the doors open. Simple to use, the device speaks phrases entered via a text file in English, French, or Spanish, saving agencies time and money on recording studios and voice talen
June 19, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
The T-Box, from 691 Mentor Engineering, is a state-of-the-art text-to-speech voice annunciation device for fixed-route transit ITS solutions. It provides next-stop announcements and updates onboard LED signs for riders inside the bus. Outside the vehicle, T-Box identifies the route and destination to passengers waiting at a stop when the doors open. Simple to use, the device speaks phrases entered via a text file in English, French, or Spanish, saving agencies time and money on recording studios and voice talent. Agencies can preview and fine-tune pronunciations using a desktop-based text-to-speech programme which allows for the creation of custom dictionaries. T-Box will also play pre-recorded WAV files and convert abbreviations into fully spoken text.

In addition, messages can be transmitted in real time to an entire fleet wirelessly, and updates can be performed with low-cost Wi-Fi in an agency's bus yard. According to Mentor Engineering, T-Box removes the need to physically visit the vehicle for upgrades, allowing an agency to achieve enormous time savings.

T-Box will reduce driver distraction by automatically announcing any message an agency may need to broadcast to its passengers. It also monitors ambient noise in the bus and self-adjusts speaker volume to ensure that messages are always heard.

Related Content

  • Technology advances improve enforcement
    July 26, 2012
    Across the board, technology is being brought to bear to improve the efficiency of enforcement. Bus lane monitoring, parking and controlled access have all benefited from systems introduced in recent months. While speed and red light infringements tend to attract the most attention, there remain several other areas of enforcement where automation can bring significant operational and efficiency benefits. Lane monitoring and access control also continue to benefit from technological development.
  • Bus location system delivers real-time passenger information
    November 28, 2012
    VeriFone Systems has installed its open-architecture vehicle tracking TransitPAY system on more than 1,000 buses serving the Bronx, following the award of a US$8.5 million contract by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) of New York. The Bronx contract award follows a similar contract in 2011 for the Staten Island fleet component of the MTA Bus Time system, which uses VeriFone on-board systems to generate location data that is communicated wirelessly to the Bus Time server that passengers can acc
  • Wi-Fi win-win for mass transit
    October 31, 2014
    David Crawford explores passenger and operator benefits of on-board Wi-Fi Urban commuters’ growing demand for continuous – and reliable - internet connectivity is spurring network operators into the rapid installation of high-grade Wi-Fi access on their surface and underground networks, as well as in their stations. Such moves are often a key part of strategies to maintain and increase ridership levels.
  • London tube installs cashless parking
    January 21, 2014
    Adaptis Solutions has implemented its dash park and go ANPR service at London’s North Greenwich underground station car park in close partnership with car park operator NCP. dash is used to provide cashless payments, season tickets and multi ticketing options. The system provides customers with the option to make payments by phone, text, mobile websites, mobile apps and a UK based call centre. The system includes a wi-fi hotspot at the car park to enable quick, easy and secure access to the dash cas