Understanding Tactile Paving and Its Smart Functions

Have you noticed unique raised designs on concrete paving today? They come in little raised shapes such as domes, ovals and flat lines, as well as having bright colors such as safety yellow. Those stuff aren’t merely for aesthetics because it serve specific purposes. Dalle podotactile are installed on paving to guide visually challenged people as they walk.

Yes, those little shapes are special marks for blind people to follow. Hence, you often notice them on potentially dangerous areas such as on platforms of train stations. Interestingly, each shape seeks to deliver specific messages as well. And their overall design are smartly-made to meet some other reasons.

Here’s a Quick Introduction to Tactile Paving and their Usage

It’s a challenge for visually impaired people to travel on completely flat surfaces. Say, they’re walking on a sidewalk and they’re nearing the edge. Chances are, mishaps would happen since they wouldn’t have enough time to stop before reaching the carriage way. They need to feel the edge using their feet or cane stick before knowing they must stop.

That’s where tactile paving comes useful.

Tactile paving are special installations on regular paving which come in the form of small raised shapes with bright color. Such shapes form lines along a walkway for visually challenged people to follow. Tactile paving was designed by Seiichi Miyake in 1965, and was first introduced in the streets of Okayama, Japan in 1967. Originally for a students of a school for the blind in the city, tactile paving is now a world-standard for safety in different areas.

How Tactile Paving actually Work

The current design of tactile paving serve certain purposes. Even each particular shapes represent specific caution for people using it.

• Shapes

Each shape of tactile paving indicates specific message for visually impaired people. For example, oval patterns tell about safe paths to walk, and may guide a person to appropriate directions. On the other hand, dotted or circle patterns indicate danger such as edges or corners. It tells a person to be more careful to avoid accidents.

Smartly, visually impaired people can identify such patterns using their feet or cane sticks.

• Colors

Note that visual impairment doesn’t merely include blind people. People with low vision are around as well. That’s why colors also play big roles in tactile paving.

It’s all about making the patterns clear and easy to see. Hence, tactile paving have bright and easily recognizable colors such as orange and safety yellow. These colors have high contrast, which makes them stand out amid other colors in the surroundings.

• Elevation

Tactile paving has raised shapes which visually impaired people can feel using their feet or cane sticks. Hence, its elevation in millimeter is important to serve such purpose. But it’s crucial to consider potential risk of tripping on such items on paving. To compensate, the tactile patterns’ elevation shouldn’t be too high.

• Durability

Since tactile paving serves by being felt using feet or cane sticks, they should have enough durability to withstand constant beating. Not mentioning their location where high volume of traffic takes place. They must remain sturdy on their exact spot, since any movement may distract a visually challenged people following the patterns.

So, the next time you’d spot these little patterns on paving, remember that they’re there for vital reasons. They are intended to help people with visual impairment while walking.