Title:	A STUDY ON THE INTERFACE OF THE TACTILE MAP WITH TACTILEGRAM TO ASSIST INDEPENDENT WALKING FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED
Author(s):	Yang, Sung-Ho
ISBN:	978-972-8939-90-8
Editors:	Katherine Blashki
Year:	2013
Edition:	Single
Keywords:	Visually impaired, Tactile map, Tactile symbol
Type:	Short Paper
First Page:	317
Last Page:	320
Language:	English
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Paper Abstract:	This study is about the development of a tactile map for assisting the visually impaired to walk indoors efficiently and independently. The result, a new concept for an interface for a tactile map, is based on preliminary research that investigated visually impaired people’s indoor walking behavior, decision-making processes, their unique concepts of space, and their information needs. The map has been developed for installation at public transportation facilities that people use frequently in their everyday lives. For the map interface, a set of tactual symbols called Tactilegram for twelve essential types of walking-related information needed for efficient walking and faced frequently in public transportation facilities has been developed. The distinctive features of the tactile map interface, namely a vast array of bumps moving up-and-down reflecting the quality of tactual perception, path-focused expression stemming from the visually impaired’ linear concept of space, and Tactilegram as a universal tactile language for essential walking-related information, makes it possible for every visually impaired person to access walking-related information on a map. The tactile map with the innovative interface provides sufficient information on orientation intuitively, both prior to physical movement and also while moving. Currently, this study is thus in the process of building a design prototype of the interface idea for evaluating and verifying the concept of the interface and is investigating the best possible solutions to technical issues
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