3-D Virtual Maps For the Blind 50
Roland Piquepaille writes to let us know about research into producing palpable maps for the blind. Scientific American has the story of Greek researchers who produce 3D "haptic" maps that "use force fields to represent walls and roads so the visually impaired can better understand the layout of buildings and cities." Two separate systems produce haptic output from standard video and from 2D maps. The systems have been tested on a small number of users. Currently the devices that interpret the "force fields" for sight-impaired users are not portable, and so the systems are most appropriate for doing research before, e.g., visiting a new city.
Re:wonderful (Score:3, Informative)
Thats OK. You have just listed the things which piss me off more than practically anything else. I am not blind but the quality of my environment is important to me. Its a shame we have to invoke the needs of disabled people to get attention paid to things like this.
A good example was a court case in my city about 10 years ago. Home owners in a wealthy area had let their hedges grow to the point where you couldnt see (let alone walk on) the foot path any more. Council told home owners to cut their trees. Home owners told the Council to do without the foot path or build a new one. They lost the case on the strength of the needs of blind people, despite the fact that everybody needs the foot path to walk on.
Re:wonderful (Score:5, Informative)
On the subject of visible assumptions, we have a blind guy doing some research into haptic interfaces as part of his PhD. Every so often the department gets the chance to try one of his experiments and the results are odd to say the least. As someone with sight I would assume that most information comes from shape and size, apparently these are secondary cues to the user of a haptic interface. I shouldn't really go into too many details as I'm not sure what he's published and what he hasn't.
Japan's being using "modern tech" for ages... (Score:2, Informative)
Anyway, to make a long comment short, it doesn't take fancy tech to make the world easier for disabled people, but a willingness to spend public money to do so. I can't imagine how much all that infrastructure costs, but then I look at my taxes...
Not all that useful: (Score:1, Informative)
People who have been blind from birth almost always (there are some exceptions) find it immensely difficult to use maps or diagrams, even if they're very well made, with different textures and good labels. The problem seems to be that they can only really take in the bit they're feeling at the time, as they feel different bits, their brain doesn't stick them together because they're not used to visually scanning things. The same thing happens when they read Braille, or even raised text, they are only taking in the bit they are feeling at the time, and they must recognise every letter because they can't scan as sighted people can.
Now, people who loose their sight later have learnt to visually scan, and can make better use of maps. They can also visualise spaces more effectively, some are quite astounding - these are the kind of people who lay out a couple of ropes in their garden, map it in their head, and then quite confidently use a chainsaw on the excess growth.
But the problem is, even blind people who can use maps don't need this new tech, cheaper and easier methods already exist. One for example, involves printing a black and white document (which could contain text-labels in the Braille font), on special paper (via an ordinary ink or laser printer). The paper is then gently heated from above, the areas coloured black absorb more heat and the special plastics on the surface of the paper expand raising the image. This system isn't limited to just black and white, usually about five levels are achievable, then of course you can use dotted or dashed lines, and tricks like that to distinguish things.
The other main method of map production takes longer, it involves making a 3D map by hand, and then melting a sheet of plastic over the top, the plastic is then removed preserving the impression.
The other problem with maps is that sighted people usually look around them at landmarks (like street names) and then look at the map to find out where they are. Blind people reading street signs, or 'seeing' the cathedral at the end of the street. Sounds difficult.
A new navigational aid for blind people is a talking GPS, and although I haven't actually had any personal experience with it, I've had good reports, and of course it doesn't rely on map reading or visualising in any way. With a talking GPS and a guide dog, a blind person could quite confidently make a trip to a new city. Having said that, many blind people already do, with other tools, and nothing more than a long cane. Blind people are disadvantaged, but if they are prepared to think creatively about the problems they face, they can figure out how to conquer most situations.