When it comes to voyage unknown territory , the visually - spoil are doubly disadvantaged . Not being able-bodied to see the layout of a unfamiliar city or subway system is inherently difficult , but not being able to interpret a map of the situation beforehand rarify things further .
Previously , expert assume that even tactile map would prove useless because blind the great unwashed have restrict spatial cognition . ButDr . Joshua Miele , a scientist at San Francisco ’s Smith - Kettlewell Eye Research Institute , who lose his sight at the age of four , says that ’s just not true . " Blind people with secure orientation and mobility science have excellent spatial cognition , because we have to , " he toldCityLab .
Miele , who has a stage in physics and psychoacoustics , has been working for the past tail of a century on improving visually - deflower hoi polloi ’s admission to selective information . Recently , he partner withLightHouse , a local organization for the blind , to createaccessible single-valued function of every BART transit stationin San Francisco .
Still , designing mathematical function for the visually deflower involve more than overcoming stereotypes . " With a visual map , you may always take a closer aspect , exaggerate or zoom in , or strabismus at it , " Miele said . " But with a tactile map , there ’s no zooming in or squint . It ’s at the resolution it ’s at . So you need to be thrifty with how much stuff you put on it , because it can get cluttered well . "
He resolve that Braille , although effectual for reading straight text edition , would clutter the map in a confusing way . Instead , the finished design consists of a large - print , tactile mapping that details the layout of each BART place . The mathematical function are specially printed , so that by using aLivescribe bright - penitentiary , users can tap on image ( like a ticket booth or an exit ) and listen to more detailed information such as the cost of a transportation , or what intersection the stair top to .
Miele understands that get similar maps in other cities is a big labor . They ’re difficult to plan and produce , but he hopes that San Francisco ’s epitome will dress a new touchstone .
" My biggest goal is for blind people to not only be able to practice maps like these universally , " he articulate , " but to expect them , desire them , ask for them , and use them in a way that improves their ability to get out there in the human beings and do the things they desire to do . "
ascertain out the maps in military action below :
[ h / tCityLab ]
