Although maps help people get around, those who are blind or visually impaired have been left out of the mix.
University researchers are trying to change that.
They are creating maps for blind people, and the maps are designed to be read by fingertips. The maps feature raised symbols so blind people can feel their way around the map.
Researchers include geography assistant professor Amy Lobben, computer and information sciences professor Stephen Fickas and graduate students Megan Lawrence and Xiangkui Yao.
They hope those who are blind will be able to get around better with the maps.
“There’s a lot of focus on accessibility in urban areas, but most of that focus is on the built environment – making sure there are wheelchair ramps and Braille labels,” Lobben said. “That’s great, assuming that someone can even get somewhere.”
Researchers see accessibility as getting from Point A to Point B – a topic that hasn’t been addressed much in the past. Maps for blind people have been confusing and inconsistent, Lobben said.
“There’s really been a lack of research in the area of maps and mapping for people who are blind or have low vision,” she said. She added that tactile map standardized symbols for blind map users didn’t exist. The visually impaired had to keep relearning new symbols for every map they used.
“One of our objectives is to standardize the symbols so that when faced with a map, people don’t have to learn the symbols,” Lobben said. “They can just learn the geography.”
The University researchers created the first standardized symbols for tactile maps, and the Braille Authority of North America adopted the symbols to be used on them. The organization will distribute the symbols to orientation and mobility teachers, who typically work with those who are visually impaired.
But creating the maps is a challenge because the maps can’t be too detailed, Lobben said.
“The amount of detail that’s discernible through the fingertips doesn’t nearly equal what’s discernible through the human eye,” she said.
Researchers conducted a national survey and met with orientation and mobility teachers to find out what features were important to blind travelers.
“We had to prioritize the features that get symbols because they’re so precious,” Lobben said. “There aren’t very many of them we could use.”
The researchers discovered that water features are important because running or falling water can often be heard and can be used as an important landmark, Lobben said. Streets, railroads, sidewalks and terrain were also important to identify.
On a tactile map of Eugene’s park blocks, street intersections are marked to represent traffic control. A raised open circle on the map means there is no traffic control, and those intersections would likely be avoided.
Fickas is developing a tactile mapping software, and the researchers hope to make the downloadable software available for free in the future.
“We’re big advocates for accessibility,” Lobben said. “We want to give teachers and parents tools so they can create customized maps.”
Fickas said the tactile maps may use more technology in the future. He said he envisions users wearing some kind of computer in which those who are visually impaired could access directions when they’re lost. The hardware could make the map obsolete or could complement the map.
“You can’t really cram a lot on those (tactile) maps,” Fickas said. “When you raise things, everything becomes a jumble.”
The hardware – possibly an earpiece – would allow users to access more features.
Fickas said his main goal is to keep prices down.
“You don’t want a computer no one can afford,” Fickas said.
Lobben said she became interested in her current research topic about 10 years ago as a Ph.D. student at Michigan State University. She made tactile maps for orientation and mobility teachers there.
“I realized the teachers didn’t have any software to produce the maps,” Lobben said. “As someone who studies map-making, I was really surprised, and I was shocked there were no standardized symbols.”
Lobben applied for a grant from the National Science Foundation but couldn’t get any funding. When she came to the University in 2004, she met Fickas, and together they received funding from the NSF in 2005. Since then, the researchers have been creating maps and getting feedback from students and teachers at the Oregon School for the Blind in Salem.
Lobben said she hopes the maps are more widely distributed in the future.
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