Projects

This article presents a pilot study carried out in the city of Barcelona on assistive resources applied to an itinerary of possible interest to visually impaired people. The objective of this study was to use qualitative research techniques to analyze the use of tactile maps, produced with 3D printing, in order to allow people to identify and memorize routes. This analysis was carried out using an evaluation model based on the principles of Universal Design (UD). Four visually impaired users participated in this initial study. They tried the different mock-ups, providing an experience in response to the main research questions: “Could 3D printing be a good technique for making tactile maps for all users, especially visually impaired users?” and “Could a visually impaired person use a map printed with this technique to learn a route to visit an accessible heritage site?

We live in a scenario marked by a technological environment, from which emerges a new social concept of culture based on access to and enjoyment of information. Nevertheless, access to the various cultural and physical expressions of humankind is not just a product of the New Technologies, since there are particular idiosyncrasies associated with each environment and physical spaces considered as heritage that make necessary the use of more traditional technical solutions to assure maximum accessibility.

Accessibility solutions applied to heritage sites must be integrated with their environment, without being aggressive to their preservation or integrity. These solutions seek the goal of bringing the cultural resources to the citizens, especially to those groups with different types of disabilities: blindness, reduced mobility, deafness, etc. Designs seek to make them direct participants in cultural events, changing their role from a passive to a fully active one. This approach turns the heritage site into a fully didactic, interactive area open to all participants.

With this objective, this paper presents a study of the state-of-the-art adaptations implemented in different areas of heritage. We have observed access from the perspective of product design, analysing which devices have been put in place, such as instruments for signalling, information support, or tactile paving. We focus our research in two areas considered as World Heritage in Spain, taking significant examples of those distinct categories registered by UNESCO: Natural Heritage and Building Cultural Heritage, and analyzing the implemented designs. This analysis will allow us to identify and understand the solutions applied to deal with the idiosyncrasies of each site, and propose specific design guidelines for achieving cultural access in these enclaves.

The Graphical representation finds its natural domain in the visual field, although its boundaries could be extended beyond this, considering aspects of expression, emotion and plastic expression among others.
In this regard, the tangible graphic expression, through tangible or relief graphics, is exposed to the receptor through the sense of touch, often through a combination of visual and tactile elements which allow everyone access to the graphic information via different perceptual modes, opening its boundaries beyond the visual domain. Thus, people with visual impairment can access to this type of graphical information by haptic and visual exploration, if they also possess the ability to see.
The article presented here aims to show some basics about these sort of graphics that require a double interpretation: the visual and the tactile reading.
Through the characterization of the most important aspects of the tactile perception, of the people with visual impairment and the different methods of producing tactile graphics, researchers will try to show a poor treated area from the orbit of Graphic Expression: the field of inclusive tactile graphics.
La representación gráfica encuentra su dominio natural en el ámbito visual, si bien es cierto que sus límites se extienden más allá de éste, contemplando también aspectos relacionados con la expresión, la emoción y la plástica entre otros.
En este sentido, la expresión gráfica tangible, a través de los gráficos tangibles o en relieve, se expone al público receptor mediante el sentido del tacto, normalmente a través de una combinación de elementos visuales y táctiles que hacen posible acceder a la información gráfica mediante diferentes modos perceptivos, abriendo así sus límites más allá del ámbito visual. De este modo, las personas con discapacidad visual pueden acceder a este tipo de información gráfica mediante la exploración háptica y visual, si, además, poseen la capacidad de ver, aunque sea de manera reducida.
El artículo que aquí se presenta pretende realizar un recorrido por este tipo de gráficos tan particulares que precisan una doble interpretación: la visual y la táctil.
A través de la caracterización de los aspectos más importantes del sistema de percepción táctil, de las personas con discapacidad visual y de los diferentes métodos de realización de gráficos tangibles, se intentará mostrar un área poco tratada desde la órbita de la Expresión Gráfica: la de los gráficos tangibles inclusivos

Tangible graphics using rapid prototyping techniques: volume as a design constituent. Rapid prototyping systems are described, along with practical applications in the production of tangible graphics for people with visual disability. The article summarises the most popular and recent manufacturing methods for this type of relief graphics and analyses the techniques developed to print physical objects in three dimensions, drawing from computer-assisted design software. A description of the most significant precedents and experiences in the field is followed by a discussion of the particulars of the «compositional theory of design» that facilitate more effective use of these techniques

The raised graphics obtained by thermoforming plastic membranes are standard items in educational and cultural activities geared to people with visual disability. Manufacturing this type of thermoformed tactile graphics calls for moulds, which are fairly expensive for medium and large production runs. Increasingly popular additive manufacturing or «3D printing» techniques are paving the way for the direct, speedy, and inexpensive production of tactile graphics. This article discusses a study on the technical and economic feasibility of using low-cost additive manufacturing technology to produce moulds for thermoformed tactile graphics

En la sociedad actual, en demanda constante de innovaciones en el diseño de productos, la importancia de innovar a tiempo marca la diferencia entre el éxito o la quiebra de una empresa. Es por ello que multitud de investigaciones se han orientado hacia este campo: métodos creativos, métricas para la creatividad, personas creativas, espacios creativos, etc. Pero todo ello se ha centrado en la actividad del ingeniero o diseñador como profesional. Sin embargo, para que un profesional completo pueda sacar el máximo partido a su creatividad, todas estas variables le deben de haber sido enseñadas. Y, por el momento, la tendencia en la enseñanza se mantiene del mismo modo: en un aula docente, con una distribución igual y unos recursos similares. Puesto que está demostrado que el espacio de trabajo influye en la creatividad de los resultados, el presente artículo pretende plantear y reflexionar sobre el espacio de enseñanza de creatividad. Además, se pretende incidir sobre aquellos aspectos a tener en cuenta para definir un entorno de enseñanza de creatividad óptimo, y definir las dificultades que se pueden encontrar en la validación científica de los experimentos destinados a verificar las hipótesis consideradas.

Integración. Revista sobre discapacidad visual – Edición digital – N.º 65, febrero 2015 – ISSN 1887-3383 http://www.once.es/new/servicios-especializados-en-discapacidad-visual/publicaciones-sobre-discapacidad-visual/nueva-estructura-revista-integracion Informe Obtención de gráficos tangibles mediante técnicas de Prototipado Rápido: el volumen como elemento compositivo de diseño J. Gual Ortí, J. Serrano Mira, M. J. Mañez Pitarch RESUMEN: Se presentan los sistemas de producción de Prototipado Rápido, y se exponen algunas de sus aplicaciones prácticas en el ámbito de la realización de gráficos tangibles para su utilización por personas con discapacidad visual. Se refieren sintéticamente los procesos de fabricación más empleados en la actualidad para realizar este tipo de gráficos en relieve, y se analizan las distintas técnicas desarrolladas para la impresión de objetos físicos en volumen y su modo de realización con técnicas de diseño asistido por ordenador. Se describen los anteceden...

Tactile graphics with raised surfaces are used to convey information to visually impaired persons through haptic perception. For many temporary use applications, portable, easy to handle and moderately durable tactile graphics are needed and, therefore, fast, flexible and inexpensive production of small batches is required. In this paper, the feasibility of using increasingly popular rapid tooling techniques based on additive manufacturing to produce moulds to thermoform final tactile graphics is addressed. In particular, a study comparing two low cost additive manufacturing techniques, usually used for final part rapid prototyping and not for rapid tooling, 3D Printing and Fused Deposition Modelling, is shown and discussed. Geometrical reproduction of the moulds and their suitability for very thin plastic sheet thermoforming of tactile graphics is analysed. The study reveals that these techniques are technically feasible and, furthermore, costs are low in comparison to conventional techniques used to produce thermoforming moulds.