<p>Using a high-tech 3D printer, scientists have created sophisticated braille maps to help blind and visually impaired people independently navigate through their surroundings.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The three plastic tactile maps have been created for each floor at the Joseph Kohn Training Centre, a facility for the blind and visually impaired in US.<br /><br />"The most difficult part was trying to imagine what it would be like to be blind myself so I could better tackle the problem, and it opened my eyes to the whole visually impaired and blind community," said Jason Kim, a student at Rutgers University.<br /><br />Howon Lee, an assistant professor at Rutgers University said the maps are a form of Global Positioning System (GPS) for the blind and visually impaired.<br /><br />A 3D printer - very similar to an inkjet printer - uses computer-aided design software. The technology was developed in the 1980s, but advancements have accelerated in the last five years, Lee said.<br /><br />"Instead of printing letters on top of a two-dimensional sheet, you just do this over and over again, layer upon layer, until you have a final three-dimensional product," Lee said.<br />"One of the things we saw with conventional braille printed on paper is that it doesn't last long," Lee said.<br /><br />The new maps - made with state-of-the-art 3D printers - are a little larger than a small computer tablet.<br /><br />They are in a binder so students can easily carry them for reference. They also have a legend, or guide, in braille, a feature missing from prior maps. The legend helps limit the amount of map training needed.<br /><br />Lee said there is only one copy of the maps so far and the goal is to lower map-making costs so every student at the training centre gets a map on day one.<br /><br />The idea is to "give freedom, extended freedom, to navigate and go from one place to another without worrying too much," Lee said.</p>
<p>Using a high-tech 3D printer, scientists have created sophisticated braille maps to help blind and visually impaired people independently navigate through their surroundings.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The three plastic tactile maps have been created for each floor at the Joseph Kohn Training Centre, a facility for the blind and visually impaired in US.<br /><br />"The most difficult part was trying to imagine what it would be like to be blind myself so I could better tackle the problem, and it opened my eyes to the whole visually impaired and blind community," said Jason Kim, a student at Rutgers University.<br /><br />Howon Lee, an assistant professor at Rutgers University said the maps are a form of Global Positioning System (GPS) for the blind and visually impaired.<br /><br />A 3D printer - very similar to an inkjet printer - uses computer-aided design software. The technology was developed in the 1980s, but advancements have accelerated in the last five years, Lee said.<br /><br />"Instead of printing letters on top of a two-dimensional sheet, you just do this over and over again, layer upon layer, until you have a final three-dimensional product," Lee said.<br />"One of the things we saw with conventional braille printed on paper is that it doesn't last long," Lee said.<br /><br />The new maps - made with state-of-the-art 3D printers - are a little larger than a small computer tablet.<br /><br />They are in a binder so students can easily carry them for reference. They also have a legend, or guide, in braille, a feature missing from prior maps. The legend helps limit the amount of map training needed.<br /><br />Lee said there is only one copy of the maps so far and the goal is to lower map-making costs so every student at the training centre gets a map on day one.<br /><br />The idea is to "give freedom, extended freedom, to navigate and go from one place to another without worrying too much," Lee said.</p>