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Tactile Maps

The basic principle of a tactile map (also known as a raised or embossed map), is to present an extremely simple version of a visual image.

A tactile map can assist blind and visually impaired people with the layout of a built environment ie. a museum or a natural environment ie. a public garden.

Tactile maps are not easy to produce or interpret since just embossing a sighted map seldom leads to an intelligible tactile map.

The problem of converting a sighted graphical representation to an embossed one can be illustrated by the problem of indicating direction. Visually it is often shown as an arrow on a line. An embossed arrow gives a sense of direction at only one point on the line and the symbol is unfamiliar to many blind persons. However a line sawtooth in cross-section has an indication of direction over the whole length of the line, and it is easy to associate the symbol with the meaning since the line is smooth in one direction and rough in the other.

To read a tactile map requires the user to use a systematic scanning technique.  Consider a sighted person trying to read a large wall map but only being able to read through two small holes; it is necessary to read the detail before being able to get an understanding of the whole image (the opposite to normal sighted reading of a map).  Using a scanning strategy is something which usually needs to be taught, so many blind people lack this skill if their visual loss was later in life.

Static and Portable Maps and Plans

There are 2 basic ways of providing information about the layout of a venue to a visitor, whether they have a sight problem, or not:

Static, in-situ maps and plans
The information given on static, in-situ maps and plans needs to be very simple and straightforward as people need to remember information once they have walked away from the map or plan. The main benefits of large static maps or plans are that they give a good overview of a venue along with simple orientation information, which is of particular benefit to people who have sight problems.

Very special consideration has to be given as to the siting of these static maps or plans. They must be located at a suitable height to give accessibility to people with sight problems and must be positioned where they can be read in comfort, for example not in the middle of a busy entrance.

Static maps and plans should be inclusive in their design, enabling as many different people to read them as possible and preventing the necessity to have more than one map, for example RNIB has been developing a new inclusive design concept called the "Map for All". This combines visual and tactile elements by using good colour contrasts, different textures along with braille and print text which is also raised, enabling the map or plan to be read by sight, by touch or by sight and touch combined.

Think Graphic and The Dog Rose Trust have developed the "Dorcas Panel". These are interpretive panels - an invisible tactile layer conveys information via braille and raised illustrations without interfering with the full colour graphics below. See following picture.

Portable, hand-held maps and plans

The information given in portable maps and plans can be much more detailed than on a static map or plan as they can be referred to constantly. However, a mechanism is needed to get them into the hands of visitors, consequently, they may not be suitable at unstaffed sites.

The ideal would be to provide both static and portable maps and plans so that the visitor can start with the static version to get a general understanding of the whole venue and then refer to a hand-held version to get further information. If this is not possible, then a decision must be made based on what is most useful at a specific venue. Overall, hand-held maps and plans usually come out on top because of the level of information they can convey.

Producing Maps and Plans

Maps and plans can be produced in a number of ways:

There are many methods of producing tactile maps or plans, but the two most common are:

Thermoforming
This process is also known as vacuum forming. Thermoform maps or plans are created from a process where a sheet of plastic is heated and vacuumed on top of a model or master. The master can be made up from almost anything, although certain substances can be more durable than others.

The key to a good thermoform map or plan is in the creation of a good master. Masters are generally built up from a base of card, but the card must either be thin enough for air to pass through it, or small holes will need to be drilled through for the vacuum process to work. A sketch of the design can be made and transferred onto the base, from which outlines and regions can be built up using a variety of materials. To give substance, objects such as balsa wood or card can be cut and glued in place. Some of the more artistic thermoform master designers use ceramic tile cement, which can be manipulated to the desired shape. Braille can be added by cutting and pasting sheets from a standard embosser or Perkins machine.

Swell paper
This process is also known as Minolta, Microcapsule paper, hot spot. Swell paper is paper with a special coating of heat reactive chemicals. Microcapsules of alcohol embedded in the paper burst when exposed to heat and make the surface of the paper swell up. Putting black ink on the paper before a heat process enables control over the raised areas.

Swell paper can be used to create tactile maps or plans in a number of ways:

Producers of tactile maps

Acknowledgement

The above information was collected from the following sources:

Further information:

Other information:

Pictures acknowledgements

• RNIB Scientific Research Unit
• Mekan Industri AB
• Think Graphic
• timp (tactile inkjet mapping project) - Anglia Ruskin University
• Lantmäteriet

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