UBER launches updated Beethoven app for deaf driver partners

UBER Malaysia today rolled out their new Beethoven driver app for partner drivers that are deaf and hard-of-hearing in order to offer more opportunities for Malaysians. For the uninitiated, Beethoven the musical genius was hard of hearing and was effectively deaf near the end of his life, hence the name of the app.

The UBER ‘Beethoven’ driver app has been modified to cater to their special needs. UBER users will get an extra prompt to indicate that their driver is deaf or hard of hearing. The call option is disabled and instead users are given the option to text requests to the driver. On the driver side, the app gives visual cues including a flashing signal that they have been assigned a pick-up.

Uber Malaysia is also collaborating with the Malaysian Federation of the Deaf to reach out to those interested in driving on the Uber platform and organising special training sessions for deaf and hard of hearing partners once a month. En. Mohamad Sazali Shaari, President of the Malaysian Federation of the Deaf (MFD) along with Kenny Chong, Uber Malaysia General Manager launched the app today and flagged off a team of partner-driver cars outside their local Malaysia headquarters.