Feeling the Perspective: Tactile Puzzle Maps for the Blind

As difficult as it is for most sighted people to gain a spatial understanding of their surroundings, it can be even more challenging for people with visual impairments. This tactile puzzle called Perspectives from industrial designer Jacqueline Tollington helps visually impaired people gain a deep understanding of the places in which they live.

In the designer’s concept, the puzzles could be made to represent any city, town, province, state or country. Starting with a bunch of pieces and putting them together into a topographical map of the place they live could help visually impaired and sighted people alike gain a deeper understanding of their surroundings.

The topographic bumps of the puzzle pieces make for some interesting tactile sensations as the pieces come together. Once the picture of the geographical area comes together, it is easy for both sighted and non-sighted people to understand the area the puzzle represents.