There are more than 285 million people in the globe who are partially blind or have low vision. Unfortunately, due to the growing ageing population, this number is projected to rise in the near future.
Think about what it would be like to travel through an airport or train station if you were blind.

If you're visually impaired or blind, you have options when it comes to travel. You can travel with a human guide, which entails holding onto someone's elbow, or with a long, white cane to identify and avoid obstacles or elevation changes, or with a dog guide, or with special optical or electronic aids, or without any additional assistance.

The instruments blind people use are determined by the severity and nature of their vision impairment, as well as their personal preferences, lighting, and familiarity with the region. People with visual impairments use whatever vision they have, auditory and tactual information, and any accumulated knowledge of a place to keep track of their whereabouts and make travel decisions in order to travel independently.
 

There are more than 285 million people in the globe who are partially blind or have low vision. Unfortunately, due to the growing ageing population, this number is projected to rise in the near future. There's a critical shortage of inventive, low-cost solutions to help blind and visually impaired individuals get around.

As a society, we must come up with innovative solutions to ensure blind individuals have equal access to opportunity and respect as sighted people. Visually impaired people benefit from tactile paving.

A promising strategy that was first implemented in Japan by Seiichi Miyake in the 1960s was to bring tactile pavers. It was also known as Tenji bricks at the time. The paving swiftly spread throughout Japan, and Japan National Railways eventually adopted it. Throughout the 1990s, tactile paving was adopted in the United States.
 

Tactile Paving is a system of textured paving surfaces designed to help visually impaired pedestrians. It helps people with low or no vision navigate by detecting movement with their feet and/or a cane. For blind and visually impaired people, it is delivering touch and visual warnings. It's critical that you put these amazing pavements in the pedestrian passageway to alert people to potential dangers.

The texture is made up of a succession of bumps in the shape of a "truncated dome," which is both recognizable and safe to walk on. Pavement units, single drilled and fixed studs, and mats glued to the ground surface are all options.
 

It is enforced by the U.S. Access Board in places like train platforms and at the ends of sidewalks. The Board promotes accessible building design and accessibility standards to help those with disabilities live more fully in their communities. The Architectural Barriers Act (ABA), passed in 1990, applies to structures built with federal funds or leased by federal agencies, while private businesses and local governments must follow ADA rules.
 

With the advancement of modern digital technology, researchers throughout the world are working to develop camera-based assistance systems that can assist visually impaired or blind persons in finding and staying on tactile paving paths, as well as warn them of impending difficulties.

Installers, on the other hand, frequently select a hue that contrasts sharply with the surface tiles. Color and contrast are considered to have a strong impact on such persons. As a result, it's critical to choose tactile paving that has a significant color contrast. The concept of "Luminance contrast" is used to help pedestrians distinguish between the walkway's limitations and potential hazards. Sizes and types range from highly durable materials that last a long time even in high-traffic locations to inferior materials that wear out quickly. People with low vision are more likely to notice the use of bright hues like Yellow. As a result, installing them will be a decision you will never look back on regretfully.
 

Tactile Indicators, in addition to assisting with direction, aid in maintaining a dignified, self-sufficient, and intact entry into and stay within the community.

Who will be your tactile paving provider?

It is none other than the Eminent Tactiles which was the first one to introduce Tactile Indicators in India which started with the aim of providing tactile paving services. We are a leading and prominent tactile paving manufacturing and supplying company till today. We aim at providing a better and safer environment for people with less or no vision. Moreover, we can also guide you on installations and other aspects.
With his sights set on the future, Mr. Bhavin Ghelani, founder of Eminent Tactiles, and his team are trying to improve processing speed and accuracy, particularly under severe illumination situations such as at night and under very strong lights. Hopefully, advancements in practical and cost-effective support tools will make it safer for visually impaired persons to go alone in the future, providing them greater freedom and self-confidence to explore new locations.
 

We hope that the next time you see Tactile Paving in public, it serves as a reminder that it aids persons with vision impairments in navigating the environment.

We believe in making the future a better place!

Disclaimer: This is a company press release. No HT journalist is involved in creation of this content.
Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/brand-post/what-are-tactile-indicators-101633959636687.html