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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.

8 results

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: 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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