Seattle Ferries Get Video Screens

Video screens are now in operation on 2 Seattle ferries and at 2 ferry terminals to help deaf passengers. The state ferry system calls this a "visual paging project." It's the result of a lawsuit filed by John Waldo. He complained that the announcements on the public-address systems should be accessible to riders with hearing loss. The state settled the suit out of court by agreeing to create a display system. Designed by Four Winds Interactive, the screens went into operation for the first time today on two Bainbridge Island ferries (the Wenatchee and the Tacoma) and two ferry terminals ( the Colman Dock and the Bainbridge Island terminal). If all goes well, the video screens will eventually expand across the ferry system.