Tactile Graphics Conference

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Exhibitor Information

The following is a list of exhibitors who attended First International Conference on Tactile Diagrams, Maps and Pictures on the 9th and 10th October in Hatfield UK.

In alphabetical order of contact person for exhibition stand:

We report two studies exploring the views and experiences of teachers and pupils using tactile graphics at primary and secondary school level. Twenty-four teachers completed a postal questionnaire, revealing views such as:
  such major reservations from some teachers that they prefer to manage without tactile graphics;
  information overshoot/undershoot being a persistent dilemma in design;
  benefits of getting pupils to produce their own graphics.

Forty pupils (age range 9-19) participated in focus groups. Example findings are:
· Age differences in pupils' responses to tactiles - older pupils were less confident.
· Older children were able to discuss issues of content and presentation in graphics separately.
· Older children suggested that tactile graphics offered advantages over text in conveying information about spatial relationships.

On the basis that it is good practice to include users in the design process, these findings offer helpful contextual information for people concerned with improving the design of tactile graphics.

All my Crag Art pictures are hand drawn, individually painted and produced in a Tactile format, so that visually impaired and blind people can appreciate and share art in their homes with family and friends. Subjects include landscapes, wildlife, buildings, and commissions are also taken for 'one off' originals, maybe a scene from childhood, a holiday or a picture of your guide dog. In addition several of the pictures are supplied with a taped description that includes relevant sounds. A mountain range described in a gale; or woodland glade with birds going to roost - a truly 'Talking Picture' in more senses than one. Calendars and Personalised Greetings cards for every occasion depict a selection of country scenes in a tactile way in black and white.

Zychem Ltd is a small, innovative company who make a special paper and heating machine, ZY®-TEX Paper and ZY®-FUSE Heater, to produce tactile diagrams for the blind and partially sighted. The paper is used often in production of educational material such as geography diagrams, maths symbols, biology diagrams etc. Some more obscure uses include maps for walks in the park, plans of bus stations, music scores etc. As well as acceptance from the customers, recognition of the company's success came with both ZY®-TEX Paper and the ZY®-FUSE Heater gaining Millennium Products status and both products represented at the Millennium Dome. More recently Zychem achieved a Queen's Award for Enterprise 2000. 

The Swedish Library of Talking Books and Braille will display examples of tactile picture-books for children and young adults and tactile maps, including "Getting in Touch with Stockholm - a city guide for visually impaired people". In addition the participants of the conference can view some examples of tactile maps from the forthcoming guidelines for the production of tactile maps.

These packs are designed to be enjoyed at home by blind or partially sighted people. Fifty copies are, or soon will be, available from Cambridgeshire Libraries Postal Tape Service and from other organizations/libraries. Each pack contains booklets of A4 tactile diagrams and pictures to help people with poor or no sight understand places, buildings and special features. It also contains audio cassettes with information, on-site recording, and detailed descriptions of every tactile page. Cambs. Co. Co. Rural Group, BT, and the Countryside Commission funded the Wandlebury Pack. The Friends of Ely Cathedral funded the Ely Pack. Jessica Finch designed both, helped by artists and the Cambridgeshire Consumer Group of Visually Impaired People. We are local people seeking to make local venues more meaningful for visually impaired people.

A display of vacuum-formed maps for recreational and educational use, all of which have been used successfully in the field. Maps of holiday accommodation, a national museum, local nature reserves, country parks and golf courses will be exhibited. Perhaps they form the foundation for some future standardisation of symbols. Ann has recently been awarded the British Cartographic Society's Ordnance Survey Award for creativity and innovation in map design for her Castleshaw contour map.

The TIGER Advantage is the first true "Windows printer for blind people". Print text and graphics at the same time. It translates screen fonts into braille and embosses crisp, high resolution line and block graphics from all standard Windows applications. The ViewPlus/Duxbury Translator is bundled with the printer to make translation into grade 2 braille easy. It embosses on any medium in sizes 16 inches wide and up to 50 inches long in landscape or portrait mode. 

The Dog Rose Trust researches and develops facilities in sound and touch for all environments for use by all, but particularly for people who are blind and visually impaired. The Dorcas Project, an interactive tactile system, was chosen as a Millennium Product in 1998. Recent work has included interactive tactile models and plans of the Palace of Westminster and Chester Cathedral and tactile plans, signage and audio guides for the Museum of British Road Transport, Coventry and Brecknock Museum Brecon. The exhibit will include plans made in a variety of materials and by different techniques that are suitable for everyone. 

The Reprographics Department of Joseph Clarke School for the visually impaired produces high quality books and worksheets in braille and large print. The large print is produced to the specific needs of the individual. Many of the worksheets and maths books are supported by tactile diagrams. Within the ever-expanding library of books available there is a large selection of primary reading schemes, books for SATS and set books for GCSE.

An extensive display of the types and variety of work undertaken by Maps and Diagrams Department, RNIB Peterborough. The display will include examples in braille, raised print, tactile and large print in the following categories: illustrations/pictures; building plans; booklet-style maps; wall-mounted maps; 'Maps for All'; educational diagrams.

William Kirby OBE, a former Art college lecturer, who is registered blind, offers guidelines on the arts and heritage for people with a visual impairment. He advises galleries, museums, arts and heritage venues at home and abroad on materials, access and visual awareness issues. The writing of audio-guides and the production of raised plans for blind and partially sighted visitors is his speciality. Guidelines are offered on the use of taped information, large print, braille, raised maps, diagrams and images, and the use of touch and low vision techniques, enhanced by lighting and good labelling. He works closely with the Arts Officer of the RNIB. Clients have included galleries in England, Scotland, Wales, Japan, France, Belgium, Australia and the USA. In June 1998 William Kirby was appointed OBE for 'Visual-Impairment Consultancy Services to Museum and Galleries'. 

Our organisation is a Library for the blind. One out of four Libraries for the blind in Holland. Our "core" activities are: production, reproduction, storage and dispatch (distribution) of talking books, and production of periodicals in audio. As extra, in Holland we are the only manufacturer of tactile maps. We make maps for educational, tourist, professional and private purposes. Our production method is archaic, as well as high-tech. Our standard moulds for thermoform production are handmade. We produce orientation plans in massive material by high-speed milling, using Computer Aided Design, and add colour to the layers (to adjust the product for sighted and short-sighted people). An example is available at the exhibition. Our latest product is braille (or any kind of text or graphic or combination of both) in solid stainless steel plate as one component (not assembled from different parts). A sample is available at the exhibition. Further at the exhibition: a city map of Amsterdam; Atlas of Europe and other continents; Biology atlas. 

A set of tools designed to help visually impaired children understand tactile graphics will be presented. The tools include among others: The Transfograph - for explaining the relation between objects and drawings, Shapes Around Us - geometric shapes mounted on magnets and a set of overlays designed to facilitate the child's understanding of spatial relations, Cubograph - a tool helping understand more complex graphical representation of three-dimensional geometric shapes, Tactile Teddy Bear Book - a suggestion of leisure activities helping the child to understand a range of visual concepts.

The National Centre for Tactile Diagrams supports blind and partially sighted people throughout their lives by making visual graphic materials accessible in a variety of tactile formats. This involves the design and production of tactile diagrams, maps and pictures with supporting explanatory and large print materials; training for blind and partially sighted people and those working with them; consultancy to businesses and organisations; and evaluation and research in the area of tactile diagrams and maps. Examples of our work are on display, illustrating our 'tactile and large print diagram packs' which support blind, partially sighted and sighted people working together. 

ClearVision is a national postal lending library of over 11,000 children's books with added braille. Our collection includes many mainstream board books with tactile interest and these are always in great demand. As part of the National Year of Reading we designed two tactile books especially for V.I. children developing tactile skills and with Nuffield Foundation funding we are currently working on six more titles. On display at the conference will be a selection of ClearVision books plus tactile books etc from other producers, showing a variety of approaches to the production of tactile books for young children. 

SmithBrewer has designed and manufactured a range of signs for the visually impaired - branded as 'touchTYPE'. Developed 5 years ago in conjunction with the RNIB and the JMU (Joint Mobility Unit), touchTYPE signs comprise raised tactile lettering instead of standard vinyl or printed text, as well as high definition braille. Signs come in a wide range of colours and are custom manufactured to incorporate any design requirements. This versatile lightweight product is hard-wearing and maintenance free. As well as fully complying with all aspects of DDA legislation, touchTYPE signs provide a one-sign solution for everybody. 

Pia has fifteen years' experience in braille production and publishing. We supply, and provide advice and support for a range of embossers and braille transcription software and offer training courses. Our Braille Bureau offers a comprehensive transcription service. Our Special Educational Needs department produces braille, large print and tactile diagrams for use in schools and colleges. Based in a separate unit, it offers additional security for work of a confidential nature. The tactile diagram service uses both thermoform and heat-swell. On our stand we are displaying samples of science and maths diagrams using both these methods and the masters from which they were produced. PIA: Bay Chambers, West Bute Street, Cardiff, CF10 5BB.

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