Cities Unlocked

Topics: Interchange, On Transport

Research state: Challenge

Finding the right person to help

Asking for help from a passer by is often the best way to deal with a complicated or unknown step in a journey. However not all passers by…

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Topics: Find, On Transport

Research state: Challenge

Many people with sight loss find it difficult to identify unoccupied seats which makes travel on busses and trains more difficult

Moving through a potentially crowded train carriage or bus and finding an unoccupied seat can be present huge problems for people with…

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Topics: Explore, Find

Research state: Challenge

Features of the environment that were not intended as navigation infrastructure are often still used as useful and important landmarks by people with sight loss

If a feature of the environment is detectable by them and always in the same place it can be used as a navigational landmark for someone…

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Topics: Find, Interchange, On Transport

Research state: Challenge

Finding and opening the doors, dealing with the gap between the train and platform and getting aboard can all be challenges for people with sight loss

Once someone has reached the correct platform and identified the train they must find the doors and get on. Predicting where the doors will…

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Topics: Interchange, On Transport

Research state: Challenge

Different layouts of bus stops have a bearing on how easy they are to locate

The first step to catching a bus is locating the stop. Bus stops that have a distinctive tactile profile and are positioned on the kerb…

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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: 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…

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Topics: Find, Move

Research state: Opportunity

Horizon scan, innovation. BlindMaps braille interface for smartphones

Andrew Spitz, Markus Schmeiduch and Ruben van der Vleuten took part in a 36 hour project at the Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design…

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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…

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Topics: Find, Planning, Touch

Research state: Opportunity

Horizon scan, innovation. Tacmap tactile interactive wayfinding device

This design proposes a device that stores pre-set tactile personal routes that are accessed through a levelling display interface. The user…

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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…

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