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Unidirectional Tactile Paving: Circulation for the Visually Impaired.
Juan Fernández González1, Ankit Gongal2
1Harvard Graduate School of Design.
Studies in Health Technology and Informatics
|September 8, 2022
Summary
New tactile paving designs improve navigation for visually impaired individuals in post-COVID-19 environments. These accessible solutions address the lack of sensory information in unidirectional circulation networks.
Area of Science:
- Urban planning and accessibility design
- Human-computer interaction and sensory substitution
- Disability studies and inclusive environments
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted accessibility issues in the built environment, particularly for the visually impaired, due to mobility restrictions.
- Reorganized circulation networks, like unidirectional pathways, were implemented to maintain physical distancing but often lacked accessibility for visually impaired individuals.
- Current visual cues for unidirectional flow are inaccessible to those with visual impairments, indicating a gap in universal design.
Purpose of the Study:
- To address the inaccessibility of unidirectional circulation networks for the visually impaired.
- To propose novel tactile paving designs that provide sensory navigation cues.
- To enhance universal accessibility in public spaces during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Main Methods:
- Conceptualizing and designing two novel tactile paving systems: asymmetrical blocks and cobblestone blocks.
- Focusing on tactile feedback for navigation through unidirectional pathways.
- Evaluating the potential for feet and/or cane interaction with the proposed paving designs.
Main Results:
- The proposed asymmetrical and cobblestone block designs offer a tactile method for navigating unidirectional circulation.
- These designs provide a sensory alternative to visual cues, enabling visually impaired individuals to understand directional flow.
- The tactile paving facilitates independent mobility within reorganized public spaces.
Conclusions:
- The developed tactile paving designs represent a significant advancement in universally accessible design for unidirectional circulation.
- Implementing these solutions can improve mobility and safety for visually impaired individuals in environments modified for physical distancing.
- This research underscores the importance of multi-sensory design strategies to ensure inclusivity in the built environment.
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