Skip to content

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.

12 results

Topics: See
Research state: Opportunity

Horizon scan, innovation. Sustainable and interactive ‘smart highways’

Daan Roosegaarde’s smart highways work as interactive environments that connect people. Instead of spending money on new cars…

Read the full article

Topics: Emotional, Explore
Research state: Demonstrator

Enjoying the journey

The train heads into London Paddington. Kate receives information about the route and is told that she’s passing Windsor Castle. The…

Read the full article

Topics: Find, See
Research state: Opportunity

Horizon scan, innovation. Ralston & Bau’s storehagen atrium colour wayfinding

This system in a Norwegian government building (Storehagen), identifies the location of different facilities and tenants within the…

Read the full article

Topics: See, Touch
Research state: Opportunity

Horizon scan, innovation. Tactile+PlusTranslucent touchscreen buttons

These buttons were primary designed and developed for gaming purposes. But they could also be useful in creating a more inclusive phone or…

Read the full article

Topics: Explore, See
Research state: Opportunity

Horizon scan, innovation. BrainPort device to see with the tongue

Sunglasses are worn by the user with a small digital video camera placed in the centre to capture visuals of the person’s…

Read the full article

Topics: Find, Hear, See
Research state: Opportunity

Horizon scan, innovation. TfL travel support card

TfL’s Travel Support Card is customisable through entering one’s specific details regarding the help required. This could be a…

Read the full article

Topics: Planning, See
Research state: Opportunity

Horizon scan, innovation. Ian Hamilton/232 Studios Colourblind Tube Map

232 Studios won a TfL competition that aimed to improve navigation information accessibility for colour blind people. The developed maps…

Read the full article

Topics: Explore, See
Research state: Opportunity

Horizon scan, concept. Keiichi Matsuda augmented city 3D

As part of his master-thesis, Keiichi Matsuda created a video that illustrates how we may experience our physical environment in the future…

Read the full article

Topics: Hear, See
Research state: Opportunity

Horizon scan, innovation. Visual and acoustic information on public buses in Madrid

This project led to the installation of visual and audio information devices that help the visually impaired and the hearing impaired…

Read the full article

Topics: Explore, Hear, See, Touch
Research state: Opportunity

Horizon scan, innovation. Touch sight camera for the blind

The touch sight camera was designed to give blind and partially sighted users the opportunity to record their memories. The user holds the…

Read the full article

Topics: Hear, Interact, See
Research state: Opportunity

Horizon scan, innovation. Dune 4.2 reactive light landscape

Dune 4.2 is a permanent public installation that is 60 meters long. The installation is made up of fibres which react to people’s…

Read the full article

Topics: Find, Hear, See
Research state: Opportunity

Horizon scan, innovation. What the phonics? Talking street signs Copenhagen

These talking street signs, installed in Copenhagen, are provided with an audio recording of how to pronounce the street name, in order…

Read the full article