Tactile maps are an important means for the education and mobility of people who are visually impaired (that is, are blind or have low vision). Because of the importance of tactile maps, it is essential that they are accessible to people who are visually impaired and correctly interpreted. There has been considerable research on the design of…

A tactile toy for visually impaired children, the "learning pillow" combines a written text (story or poem) with a page-size pillow that has tactile images related to the text. Exploration of the pillow in conjunction with hearing the text stimulates a number of learning experiences. (Author/CL)

More than 60 different tactual maps were created on capsule paper to examine the effectiveness of this process. The medium's composition, steps necessary for map compilation and processing, equipment costs and operations, appropriate symbolization, and advantages and disadvantages of the process are discussed. (Author/CL)

Signs from lists used with mentally retarded and autistic children and previously rated for visual iconicity were presented tactilely to 13 blind adults. Visual and tactile ratings were very similar across blind and sighted groups, as were statements of relationship between signs and their meanings. (Author/CL)

Tactile maps for visually impaired persons can be made by drawing lines with an aqueous adhesive solution, dusting with thermoengraving powder, and exposing the card to a source of intense heat (such as a heat gun or microwave oven). A raised line map results. (CL)

The article describes an improved relief drawing set designed for use with visually impaired persons that allows durable, tangible, and visible embossed images to be made with a ball-point pen. (Author/PHR)

Twelve blind students (12 to 24 years old) explored haptically the spatial relations among objects on a table top and were then asked to walk all the paths connecting the objects in a large scale environment. The students deduced the overall arrangement of locations from any point in the large scale environment fairly accurately. (CL)

Discusses the use of the Moon system, an English embossed reading method, with visually handicapped individuals. Reports advantages of the system, such as its roman character familiarity for those once able to see and the availability of Moon books and materials. Concludes that the Moon system is an important alternative to braille. (PHR)

The article describes the Fishburne Code tactile labeling system as a practical alternative for those adult blind who are unwilling or unable to learn braille. Instructional materials, teaching methods, and practical applications of the Fishburne Code are noted. (Author/DB)

The University of Texas at Austin has developed a modular tactual map of the campus and outlying areas to aid visually impaired students. Construction information is summarized. (CL)

Sixteen people with blindness or visual impairments used three different types of tactual maps of the New York City subway system presenting information at three levels of specificity. Results indicated that the tactual maps improved participants' attitudes toward the subway and benefited blind as well as low vision participants. (Author/DB)

The author, who is congenitally blind, describes two training programs with a Tactile Vision Substitution System, including a mobile version of the device. (Author)

Seventy-two sighted college students who studied the braille or Fishburne alphabet for eight minutes were tested for recall. More Fishburne than braille items were recalled, independent of item arrangement. Results suggest that visually impaired persons might use the Fishburne system for labelling personal objects or when braille learning is too…

Two experimental tactile political map designs were evaluated with 72 blind braille reading students (grades 4-12). (Author/CL)

Point and linear symbols that represent certain areas of building interiors are discussed in light of their reliability and discriminability if used on tactual maps. A set of "optimally sized" symbols were evaluated with 21 blind observers. (Author/DB)