If you are blind, when you visit a restroom by default you will end up touching many more things than sighted people to find the same facilities. Wouldn’t it be great to minimize contact with things you wouldn’t need to touch in the first place? This is why I invented the accessible tactile 3D printed..
Erich Manser on the Resilience and Logistics of Blind Running
I would like to introduce you to my friend, and previous colleague from IBM, Erich Manser who is a competitive blind runner. Over the years I enjoyed hearing about his adventures, and when it comes to sports, I got much inspiration from him. Erich is 53 and lives in Littleton, Massachusetts with his wife Lisa..
My first ride in a self-driving car
For the last three years I’ve been trying to figure out how to get into a self-driving car. Each time I was in a city, it was either cancelled for the time being, the app didn’t work, etc. I even thought about flying across the country to try it out, but there was always a..
The Harriet Beecher Stowe House in Cincinnati
Last week when I attended the National Braille Association conference, I was able to find some time to visit the Harriet Beecher Stowe House in Cincinnati. I admit, last time when I was in Cincinnati, I didn’t know about it, otherwise I would have put it on my list, though maybe it was at the..
When 3D printing is preferrable to 2D tactile graphics
When supplying visual materials with braille books for the most part the use of tactile graphics is sufficient. However, there are many instances when providing 3D printed objects can enhance the understanding of the material. Even the Tactile Graphics Guidelines Mention 3-dimensional objects in the first sentence of the document: “Tactile graphics, in combination with..
The Typhlological Museum in Madrid
It was a long time dream coming true to visit the Typhlological Museum in Madrid, Museo Tiflológico, a museum for and about blind and visually impaired people. The occasion was that we were speaking at the Inclusive Museum conference in Zaragoza. My options were to fly through Barcelona or Madrid, so I picked Madrid to..
Making 3D printed buildings accessible
When creating accessible 3D printed buildings for visually impaired people, the first thing that comes to mind is let’s make it small enough to handle, but large enough to feel the important details. But let’s expand on this a little bit, because in practice there is so much more complexity to it. (more…)
Touch tour at the Rijksmuseum
Last week I was in Amsterdam attending the third Tactile Reading and Graphics Conference. As always when I travel, I try to squeeze in at least a museum visit. This time, it was the Rijksmuseum, for several reasons. One that it was already recommended to me as an accessible experience, but even more importantly because..
Braille vs. Audio: Which Communication Tool Works Best for the Blind?
In person-centered learning, communication, alongside access to information, is important for education, employment, and day-to-day life activities, especially for people with visual impairment. Accessibility has been improved over the years with the development of technology, with the biggest focus being placed on Braille and audio aids. But which one is better? The effectiveness of these..
How Smart Technology is Transforming Communication for Blind People
During the time of technological advancements, one main concern remains at the forefront: enabling ease of communication for the disabled, especially those who are visually impaired. With the rise of AI-integrated devices, voice-operated machines, and accessibility software, visually impaired people can now move around the world with much more ease. This article talks about how..