3D Printed Cityscapes: Tactile Exploration For The Visually Impaired Community

Описание: I wanted to share some progress I have made with my 3D printing project for tactile exploration. I printed a larger cityscape covering a much wider area of a city so a blind person could gain a better general spatial understanding of the city and then "zoom in" on a specific area/point of interest to get more details.

00:00 Introduction
2:00 Detailed "Zoomed In" View of specific points of interest
5:40 Textures to identify different buildings/landmarks
7:25 Blunders/Areas of improvement

With these models, not only can a blind person feel the scale of buildings but for low vision users, adding different colors can help them identify different buildings. Textures play an important role too. As an example, the Chicago river is completely smooth and a little texture can help identify it easily. I am creating new textures using generative AI with ChatGPT and Claude.

More work needs to be to done to make the 3D printed model much more precise and cleaner but I think this is not bad for first iteration.

Here is why I am exploring 3D printing for the visually impaired:

Tactile Exploration: 3D printed cityscapes allow individuals to explore and understand the layout of a city through touch, providing a unique, tactile experience that words alone cannot convey.

Inclusivity: By integrating high-contrast colors, we ensure that people with low vision can also benefit from these models, making the project accessible to a broader audience.

Educational Value: These models serve as educational tools, helping visually impaired students and individuals gain a better spatial understanding of urban environments.

Innovation in Accessibility: This project demonstrates how technology and creativity can come together to break down barriers and enhance accessibility for everyone.

Low Cost yet High Creativity: 3D printers are getting more affordable, especially the entry level ones. Once you have access to one, you can get really creative and use them to create various educational models.
#3dprinting #assistivetechnology #generativeAI