Joshua uses his finger and audio signals to determine proximity to select buildings, with captions appearing in the bottom left corner

Interactive tactile map prototype will assist low-vision and blind students navigate campus

  • by Ahna Heller

The prototype campus map, featuring tactile and audio features, was just a dream a few years ago. This past summer, it was delivered to the Student Disability Center, ready for campus viewing and use.

The idea of creating an interactive map was born in 2018. Student Affairs opened grants for projects serving students, and Joshua Hori, then with the Student Disability Center and now with Information & Educational Technology, applied to build a prototype to replace the 25+ year old Braille campus map. After the application was accepted, Joshua enlisted help from UC Davis Design School professor, Susan Verba. A course was created, and design students and visually disabled students enrolled to work on the prototype and test the tactile patterns.

Touch Graphics, a company that makes products that communicate spatial information through sense of touch, was enlisted to create the prototype guided by the design proposed by the students. When Joshua checked out their work in progress he said, “My jaw dropped when I saw their work; it was better than I thought possible, especially with regard to the audio interface.”

The final product has 3D printed campus buildings with interactive audio capabilities and captions. See this short video for demonstration of the map.

“The map is intended for low vision and blind students, but it really is for everyone because it shows what we can do as a community. Hopefully it will expand everyone’s minds to what is possible,” said Joshua.

Student Disability Center accessible technology specialist, Sebastian Niles, agrees with Joshua, “This map is just the beginning of innovation in navigating and wayfinding. We have more exciting projects in the works.”

If you have questions or are interested in viewing the map, contact the Student Disability Center at sdc@ucdavis.edu. If you want to engage in the campus accessibility conversation, join the UC Davis Slack channel at #accessibilityhelp.