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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.

13 results

Topics: Explore, Hear
Research state: Challenge

Distinctive and predictable sounds in the urban environment are key source of navigational information

Changes in the sound of traffic, the sounds of different trains or of a shouting market stall holder are all examples of useful and…

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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: 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: Hear, Move, Touch
Research state: Opportunity

Horizon scan, innovation. Raynes Tacdots tactile paving

Designed by Raynes Associates, Tacdots are easy to install and easy to use tactile wayfinding dots. The dots can be used for inside and…

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Topics: Hear
Research state: Opportunity

Horizon scan, innovation. BAT ‘K’ sonar cane add-on appliance

The ‘K’ Sonar can be clipped on to an existing cane to help detect obstacles within a 5 metre range through the use of…

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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: Hear
Research state: Opportunity

Horizon scan, innovation. Barclay’s talking ATMs

Before the introduction of Talking ATM’s, blind and visually impaired customers were not able to use an ATM independently. Prompted…

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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…

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Topics: Hear
Research state: Opportunity

Horizon scan, innovation. Payment 4 ALL facilitates card payments

Spanish company Redsys Servicios de Procesamiento is working to implement a sound code that works with Point of Sale systems and…

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Topics: Hear, Interact
Research state: Opportunity

Horizon scan, innovation. Sound producing piano staircase

The piano staircase is an interactive landscape that was implemented to encourage people to use the stairs instead of the lift and the…

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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…

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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…

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