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Cities Unlocked

Be inspired

We estimate that 4 million people will be living with sight loss in the UK by 2050. We need to better understand the problem from the individuals' perspective and identify integrated solutions to make cities enjoyable for everyone.

Challenge

Watch our short films and find out more about the everyday challenges of people with sight loss and the remarkable ways which they are forced to overcome them.

Demonstrator

Discover how we developed, trialled and tested our 3D soundscape technology on a route from Reading to London.

Opportunities

Learn about the emerging opportunities for city planners, architects, technologists and policy makers the world over.

38 results

Topics: Overall
Research state: Opportunity

Finding opportunities; horizon scans and visioning workshops

We have endeavoured to understand the opportunities for Future Cities to be better designed for people with sight loss. We have undertaken…

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Topics: Overall
Research state: Demonstrator

3D soundscape technology enabled journey - results

Based on the research you can explore in ‘Challenges’, and equipped with a model of well being developed by Guide Dogs we…

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Topics: Explore, Move
Research state: Opportunity

Visioning workshop, opportunity: Walking the City

Orientation is exceptionally difficult, with little or no visual cues and confusing soundscapes, alternative solutions are needed to guide…

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Topics: Explore, Interact, Move
Research state: Opportunity

Visioning workshop, opportunity: Street Furniture

Existing street furniture and amenities can be a hindrance to the blind and partially sighted. Shared spaces and open streets can disrupt…

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Topics: Hear, Overall
Research state: Opportunity

Visioning workshop, opportunity: Hearing the City

Many partially sighted people suffer from a lack of information about their surroundings or situation. Often they rely on the descriptions…

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Topics: Move
Research state: Demonstrator

Leaving home

Kate leaves her house and walks down Tamarisk Avenue towards Reading town centre. She’s informed that there’s a new dropped kerb…

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Topics: Interact
Research state: Demonstrator

Buying lunch

Always thinking ahead, Kate stops off at Tesco to buy lunch. She uses the technology to do a quick sweep of the store and get a sense of…

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Topics: Interchange
Research state: Demonstrator

At the bus stop

Kate heads to the bus stop. As she approaches it she feels the rumble-strip paving beneath her feet and knows it’s coming up on her…

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Topics: On Transport
Research state: Demonstrator

On the bus

Boarding the bus, Kate using the technology to find her seat. She’s told the journey to the station will take about 20 minutes. The…

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Topics: Interchange
Research state: Demonstrator

In the station

The station is large and noisy. Kate does an audio sweep of the station using the Microsoft 3D soundscape technology and the layout is…

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Topics: Hear, Interact
Research state: Opportunity

Horizon scan, innovation. Studio weave lullaby factory radio frequency installation

Lullaby Factory was set up at Great Ormond Street Hospital to create a calming environment for patients. It is an art installation that…

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Topics: Move, Touch
Research state: Opportunity

Horizon scan, innovation. Tactile sight wayfinding belt

Developed by Tactile Sight, a spinoff of the University of Waterloo, the Tactile Belt functions much as a route planner such as Google…

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