Talking Tactile Map

(Copied and pasted from my Research Summary)

David Sweeny, the designer Pathfinder has also developed the Talking Tactile Map. Sweeny (2008) expresses that excessively complex maps are useless as they are impossible to read, overly simplified maps are easier to read but the sparse information limits their usefulness. Tactile maps have always suffered from this trade-off between legibility and information quality. Sweeny’s Talking Tactile Map improves both the clarity and quality of the information. The Vassall Centre in Bristol was used as a test site for the Talking Tactile Map. “The nature of the building means that tenants are often in flux, and due to there being no receptionist, the strain on the navigating system affects everyone, particularly the visually impaired group” (Sweeny, 2008). The shape of the Talking Tactile Map is a simplified version of the actual space. “Corridors are indicated by channels while exits and entrances are indicated by ramps. The ‘You Are Here’ indicator is described by a large stainless steel ball” (Sweeny, 2008). When the map is touched, the person hears a spoken description of the organisation or service that is located at that point. The longer the person leaves their finger there, 
the more information they will receive about that place. This approach allows a visitor to quickly scan through all the services available at the centre. In spite of this helpful design, there still remains one difficulty - the visually impaired must first know the location of the information before they can begin to read it. 

More can be found at: http://www.davidsweeneydesign.com/projects/tactile-map/