TactileView creates pictures for people who cannot see. These pictures are transformed for them into tactile graphics. Blind people can read them by touch and interpret the tactile material. Simple tools are available for the design and production of tactile pictures, diagrams and maps.

The TactileView concept consists of design software for the creation of tactile graphics and an international web catalog. The design software allows production (printing) on a braille embosser or on swell paper (microcapsule paper). The tactile image is created by placing the swell paper in a special heater.

An enormous number of line drawings and photos have been published in journals, books and on the internet. The majority of these images are not directly transferable to tactile format; either too many details are shown,

there are too many (more or less similar) colors, or shapes are difficult to recognize.

Once the images have been pre-processed, they can be prepared for production in a tactile format. Only the essential contours of the design remain and information in braille is added.

Although a tactile diagram can not completely replace a visual image, it often forms a useful and well appreciated aid to understanding the visual world.

Day to day application

Users of the TactileView design software can browse the catalog on this website to search for and reproduce meaningful designs. Are you  interested in processing images, preparing them for tactile presentation and finally producing them? Click on Program.