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: 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…

Read the full article

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…

Read the full article

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…

Read the full article

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…

Read the full article

Topics: Explore, Interact
Research state: Challenge

Distinctive and predictable smells in the urban environment can work as useful landmarks

From fish to fried chicken people with sight loss use all sorts of smells as navigational cues. Like any other landmark for a smell to be…

Read the full article

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…

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: 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: 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: 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…

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: 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