Cities Unlocked

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: Challenge

Understanding the challenge

Many people with sight loss are too anxious to leave home alone Getting around cities is a nerve-wracking experience for too many people,…

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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: Overall, Planning

Research state: Challenge

Navigating with a mental map relies on things being where they are expected to be. When they are not significant difficulties can arise

Above almost anything else people with sight loss rely on predictability in their environment. Carefully constructed routes only work when…

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Topics: Overall, People Power

Research state: Challenge

Certain behaviors by members of the public can have a significant negative impact people with sight loss when travelling

From cycling on the pavement to pushing in front of them, there is a perception amongst some people with sight loss that members of the…

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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: 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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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: 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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