JP6844840B2 - Tactile map creation kit - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a tactile map, and more particularly to a tactile map used for walking training of a visually impaired person.

Currently, there are about 310,000 visually impaired people who have obtained a disability certificate in Japan, and many of them have acquired visual impairment. Usually, those who have difficulty walking due to visual impairment will undergo walking training under the guidance of a walking trainer in order to learn to walk alone with a white cane.

On the other hand, conventionally, there is a "tactile map" as a map used by visually impaired people. A "tactile map" is a map that expresses roads and buildings with irregularities, and tactile maps created by point maps and three-dimensional copies (copies that utilize the thermal foaming characteristics of special paper called capsule paper) are known. (For example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-163929

In walking training for the visually impaired, it is important for the trainee to draw a mental map of the walking route, and as an aid to that, the use of a tactile map has been studied for some time. However, conventional tactile maps created with point diagrams and three-dimensional copies have low tactile sensation due to the small height of the convex parts, and are extremely difficult to use, especially for those who have become visually impaired in old age. There was a problem.

In general, in home-visit walking training, a walking trainer goes to a designated starting point (for example, the training target's home), and the training target person travels from there to a designated destination (for example, the nearest station). In many cases, the optimal walking route is improvised while walking with. This is because the trainee can be safely and efficiently without checking the situation at the site and the characteristics of the trainee (for example, the appearance of amblyopia, walking ability, spatial cognitive ability, memory ability, personality, etc.). This is because it is not possible to determine the optimum route to reach the destination.

When the present inventor conducted an independent survey of walking trainers, the walking routes and landmarks (clues) that were improvised for training could be immediately realized on the spot, and if necessary. , It turned out that a tactile map that can correct the contents is strongly desired. In this regard, conventional tactile maps are created in advance exclusively by point maps or three-dimensional copies, and their contents cannot be modified after the fact.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a kit for improvising a highly tactile map in the field of walking training.

As a result of diligent studies on a kit for improvising a highly tactile map in the field of walking training, the present inventor came up with the following configuration and came up with the present invention.

That is, according to the present invention, a tactile map creation kit for creating a tactile map used for walking training of a visually impaired person, the surface of which is at least one substrate that provides a map plane, and a component of the map. A tactile map creation kit is provided, which comprises a plurality of three-dimensional objects, and the three-dimensional object is detachable from the map plane.

As described above, according to the present invention, a tactile map creation kit for improvising a highly tactile tactile map in the field of walking training is provided.

The external view of the tactile map making kit of this embodiment. The figure which shows the point part which comprises the tactile map creation kit of this embodiment. The figure which shows the line part which comprises the tactile map creation kit of this embodiment. The figure which shows the surface part which comprises the tactile map creation kit of this embodiment. The figure for demonstrating the tactile map of this embodiment. The figure for demonstrating the tactile map of this embodiment. The figure for demonstrating the tactile map of this embodiment. The figure for demonstrating the tactile map of this embodiment. The figure for demonstrating the tactile map of this embodiment. The figure for demonstrating the tactile map of this embodiment.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the drawings. In each of the figures referred to below, the same reference numerals are used for common elements, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

FIG. 1 shows an external view of the tactile map creation kit 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The tactile map creation kit 100 of the present embodiment is a creation kit for creating a tactile map for walking training for the visually impaired, and as shown in FIG. 1, one or more panels 10 and three boxes 20 It is composed of 30 and 40.

The panel 10 is a substrate whose surface provides a map plane of a tactile map. As shown enlarged in FIG. 1, the panel 10 is composed of a plate-shaped member 12 and a surface fastener 14 made of an arbitrary material, and the surface fastener 14 is attached and fixed so as to cover the upper surface of the plate-shaped member 12. .. In FIG. 1, two large and small rectangular panels 10a and 10b are illustrated as the panel 10, but the present invention does not limit the shape, size, and number of the panels 10.

On the other hand, the three boxes 20, 30, and 40 contain a plurality of three-dimensional objects (hereinafter, referred to as parts) that are components of the tactile map. Specifically, the box 20 contains parts that make the idea of "dots" on the map (hereinafter referred to as point parts), and the box 30 contains parts that make the idea of "lines" on the map (hereinafter referred to as line parts). ) Is housed, and parts (hereinafter referred to as face parts) that make the idea of a "face" on the map are housed in the box 40. In addition, although FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment in which each of the three types of parts is housed in a unique box, the present invention does not limit the mode of accommodating each part, and the three types of parts are housed in one. It may be mixedly loaded in a box, or in that case, three spaces may be provided in the box so that parts of different types can be accommodated in each space.

Subsequently, the parts housed in each of the above-mentioned boxes will be described.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as point parts housed in the box 20, a columnar point part 22, a conical point part 24, a point part 26 representing a staircase, and a point part 28 representing a person. As shown enlarged in FIG. 2, a surface fastener 15 paired with a surface fastener 14 fixed to the upper surface of the panel 10 (see FIG. 1) is attached and fixed to the bottom surface of each point part. .. The shape of the point part of the present embodiment is not limited to that illustrated in FIG. 2, and may have any other shape.

FIG. 3 shows line parts 32, 34 and 36 representing roads, and line parts 38 representing railroad tracks as line parts housed in the box 30. As shown enlarged in FIG. 3, a surface fastener 15 paired with a surface fastener 14 fixed to the upper surface of the panel 10 (see FIG. 1) is attached and fixed to the bottom surface of each line part. The shape of the line part of the present embodiment is not limited to that illustrated in FIG. 3, and may have any other shape.

Here, while the upper surface of the line part 32 is formed as a smooth surface, the upper surface of the line part 34 is formed with irregularities in a grid pattern, and the upper surface of the line part 36 is formed with irregularities in a striped pattern. This allows visually impaired people to tactilely identify differences in line parts.

FIG. 4 shows, as the surface parts housed in the box 40, a rectangular flat plate-shaped surface part 41, a rectangular flat plate-shaped surface part 42, a fan-shaped flat plate-shaped surface part 43, and a surface part 44 representing a corner of an intersection. , A surface part 45 representing a corner of an intersection, a surface part 46 representing a visually impaired person guiding block (guidance block), and a surface part 48 representing a visually impaired person guiding block (warning block) are shown. As shown enlarged in FIG. 4, a surface fastener 15 paired with a surface fastener 14 fixed to the upper surface of the panel 10 (see FIG. 1) is attached and fixed to the bottom surface of each surface part. .. The shape of the surface part of the present embodiment is not limited to that illustrated in FIG. 4, and may have any other shape.

The three types of parts (point parts, line parts, and surface parts) have been described above, but the parts of this embodiment are structures (roads, railroads, bridges) that are assumed to exist on the walking route of the visually impaired. , Buildings, blocks for guiding the visually impaired, bus stops, etc.), and includes models of structures that are supposed to be clues (landmarks) for the visually impaired to walk.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the parts of the present embodiment may have irregularities formed on the surface thereof in an appropriate manner so that a visually impaired person can be identified by touch, and a person with low vision (low vision person). The surface may be colored with an appropriate color so that can be visually identified. Further, the surface of the uneven part may be colored, and at that time, the type of the color to be colored and the aspect (feel) of the unevenness may be matched. In addition, Braille may be added to the surface of the part. For example, when considering providing a copy of a tactile map created with a thermoform (vacuum forming machine) to a trainee for review at home, if there is a Braille notation on the surface of the part, the trainee Can recognize the meaning of each part, and it becomes easy to reproduce the training content in the mind.

As described above, in the present embodiment, since the hook-and-loop fasteners are fixed to both the upper surface of the panel 10 and the bottom surface of each part, the upper surface of the panel 10 (the surface to which the hook-and-loop fastener 14 is fixed) is arbitrary. A tactile map can be easily created by simply pasting the bottom surface of the parts (the surface to which the hook-and-loop fastener 15 is fixed). The hook-and-loop fastener is excellent in that parts can be easily attached and detached, and the positions of the attached parts are not easily displaced. However, the hook-and-loop fastener is an example of a mechanism for making the parts detachable from the panel 10, and instead of the hook-and-loop fastener, other means such as a magnet or a removable adhesive can be adopted.

The configuration of the tactile map creation kit 100 of the present embodiment has been described. Subsequently, a specific example of the tactile map (hereinafter referred to as the main tactile map) created by using the tactile map creation kit 100 of the present embodiment has been described. explain.

(Specific example 1: Route map)
In order to effectively carry out walking training for the visually impaired, it is very important for the trainee to draw a mental map of the walking route.

FIG. 5A exemplifies a walking route for walking training, and FIG. 5B shows a layout of a tactile map created for drawing a mental map of the walking route. In the layout shown in FIG. 5B, the point parts (A) and the point parts (B) represent the starting point and the destination, respectively, and the line parts (C), (D), (J), and (E). ) Represents the walking route, and the line parts (F), (G), (H), and (I) represent the crossroads appearing on the walking route.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a tactile map created according to the layout shown in FIG. 5 (b). As shown in FIG. 6, since the height of the convex portion of this tactile map is much larger than that of the conventional tactile map created by a point map or a three-dimensional copy, the tactile map is very high in tactileness, and it is suitable for elderly people and the elderly. Even a person with low tactile perception ability such as a blind person can easily read it.

Further, in this tactile map, the map information can be abstracted according to the resolution of the trainee. For example, comparing FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b), in the actual walking route (indicated by the thick solid line), there are eight crossroads from the starting point to the destination. On the other hand, in the layout of this tactile map, the four narrow crossroads are omitted, and only the four wide crossroads (indicated by the thick dashed line) that are easy for the visually impaired to use as clues are the line parts (F). , (G), (H), (I). In this way, by omitting or deforming the map information as necessary, the trainee can easily grasp the walking route.

Further, in this tactile map, since each part is detachable from the panel 10 via the hook-and-loop fasteners 14 and 15, the contents of the map can be easily corrected on site according to the situation. .. For example, even if you are forced to change the walking route or landmarks due to the on-site situation found during walking training or the actual reaction of the trainee, you can simply re-paste the parts to create a tactile map. Since the changes can be reflected and immediately fed back to the training, the efficiency of walking training is significantly improved.

(Specific example 2: Concept map)
As a basic orientation technique used when the visually impaired move, there is a technique called "square ring-off" in which the person takes a vertical direction with the back of the wall. Square ring-offs are often used when crossing a road, for example, when crossing a pedestrian crossing at an intersection, by orienting one's own crossing direction against the wall of a building standing at the corner of the intersection. , You will be able to cross the pedestrian crossing straight.

However, for example, as shown in FIG. 7A, when a building standing at a corner of an intersection has a corner cut, if a visually impaired person performs a square ring off with the corner cut wall W as the back. There is a risk of getting off the pedestrian crossing and entering the roadway. Further, as shown in FIG. 7B, if the visually impaired person does not correctly grasp the shape of the staggered intersection, he / she will be confused by the dead end after crossing the pedestrian crossing.

Therefore, in walking training for the visually impaired, it is very important for the trainee to correctly grasp the shape of the intersection existing on the walking route.

Regarding this point, FIG. 8A shows a perspective view of a tactile map created by pasting three face parts 44 and one face part 45 on the panel 10b. This tactile map is a conceptual map showing the shape of the intersection shown in FIG. 7A, and the surface part 45 shows that the building standing at the corner of the intersection has a corner cut. Further, FIG. 8B shows a perspective view of a tactile map created by pasting two surface parts 41 and two surface parts 42 on the panel 10b. This tactile map is a conceptual map showing the shape of the staggered intersection shown in FIG. 7 (b). By introducing such a conceptual map into walking training, it is possible to make the trainee correctly grasp the shape of the intersection.

(Specific example 3: Understanding the installation mode of the visually impaired guidance block)
Currently, blocks for guiding the visually impaired (hereinafter referred to as Braille blocks) are installed indoors and outdoors to support the safe movement of the visually impaired. The Braille block consists of a "guidance block" that indicates the direction of travel and a "warning block" that indicates the position to be noted (in front of the branch point of the guidance block, in front of a pedestrian crossing, in front of a guide plate or an obstacle, etc.). Although it is supposed to be installed according to the guidelines of, in reality, it is often installed in the wrong manner, which may cause visually impaired people to get lost or cause an accident. It is a problem.

FIG. 9A shows a correct installation example of the Braille block in the branch road. Normally, a visually impaired person advances while grasping the direction of travel by following the guidance block (U) with a white cane, and when he / she feels the warning block (K) after that, he / she judges that it is a turning point and his / her body. Change the direction of. In the correct installation example, as soon as the visually impaired person changes his / her body orientation, he / she can feel the guidance block (U) indicating the branching direction, so that the visually impaired person follows the guidance block (U). Can proceed in the branching direction.

On the other hand, FIG. 9B shows an example of erroneous installation of the Braille block in the branch road. In the example shown in FIG. 9B, the problem is that there are too many warning blocks (K) installed at the branch points. In the wrong installation example, the visually impaired person advances while following the guidance block (U) with a white cane, and determines that the warning block (K) palpated after that is a branch point and changes the direction of the body. At this time, there is no guidance block (U) indicating the branching direction within the reach of the white cane. As a result, visually impaired people lose their sense of direction to go and go back and forth, leading to an accident in the worst case.

Therefore, in walking training for the visually impaired, it is very important for the training target person to understand the actual installation mode of the Braille block installed on the walking route to be trained.

In this regard, FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of a tactile map created by pasting nine surface parts 46 and nine surface parts 48 on the panel 10a. This tactile map is a map showing an erroneous installation example of the Braille block shown in FIG. 9B, in which the surface part 46 represents the guidance block and the surface part 48 represents the warning block. If the trainees are made aware of the actual installation mode of the Braille block using such a tactile map, they will not be in a hurry even if they encounter a Braille block installed in the wrong mode. Can be prevented.

Although the present invention has been described above with embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the actions and effects of the present invention can be exhibited within the scope of other embodiments that can be conceived by those skilled in the art. As long as it works, it is included in the scope of the present invention.

10 ... panel, 12 ... plate-shaped member, 14,15 ... surface fastener, 20,30,40 ... box, 22,24,26,28 ... point parts, 32,34,36,38 ... wire parts, 41,42 , 43, 44, 45, 46, 48 ... Surface parts, 100 ... Tactile map creation kit

Claims (6)

A tactile map creation kit for creating tactile maps used for walking training for the visually impaired.
With at least one substrate whose surface provides a map plane,
Multiple 3D objects that are components of the map,
With
The three-dimensional object includes a model representing a corner of an intersection, a model of a visually impaired guiding block, or both.
A tactile map creation kit characterized in that the three-dimensional object is detachable from the map plane. A surface fastener is fixed to both the map plane and the bottom surface of the three-dimensional object.
The tactile map creation kit according to claim 1. The three-dimensional object is
Includes a model with irregularities on the surface for the visually impaired to be tactilely identifiable,
The tactile map creation kit according to claim 1 or 2. The three-dimensional object is
Colored so that people with low vision can visually identify
The tactile map creation kit according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The three-dimensional object is
Includes models of structures present on the walking route of the visually impaired,
The tactile map creation kit according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The three-dimensional object is
Includes models of structures that visually impaired people use as clues to walk,
The tactile map creation kit according to any one of claims 1 to 5.