ISO 23599:2012 pdf free download – Assistive products for blind and vision- impaired persons一Tactile walking surface indicators.
The purpose of this International Standard is to create requirements for tactile walking surface indicators (TWSIs) for blind or vision-impaired persons.
When blind or vision-impaired persons travel alone they might encounter problems and hazards in various situations. In order to obtain information for wayfinding, these pedestrians use information available from the natural and built environment, including tactual, acoustic and visual information. However, environmental information is not always reliable; it is for this reason that TWSIs perceived through use of a long white cane, through the soles of the shoes and through use of residual vision have been developed.
TWSIs were invented in Japan in 1965. They are now used around the world to help blind or vision-impaired persons to travel independently. At present, TWSI patterns and installation methods vary from country to country. This International Standard aims to provide a basis for a common approach for TWSIs at the international level, while acknowledging that some differences may be necessary at the local level to accommodate climatic, geographical, cultural or other issues that might exist.
TWSIs should be designed and installed based on a simple, logical and consistent layout. This will enable tactile indicators to facilitate not only the independent travel of blind or vision-impaired persons in places they frequently travel, but also to support their independent travel in places they visit for the first time.
Currently, there are several forms of TWSIs, but the ability to detect differences in tactile patterns through the soles of the shoes or the long white cane varies depending on individual differences. Therefore, the consolidated findings of science, technology and experience were employed to define the characteristics of TWSIs that can be detected and recognized by potential users. Additionally, in order to ensure that TWSIs achieve maximum effect in conveying information, it is important that they be installed in or on a smooth surface where blind or vision-impaired persons can identify them without interference from an irregular walking surface.
It is also necessary to ensure that TWSIs can be effectively used by vision-impaired persons as well as people who are blind. For this purpose, TWSIs should be easily detectable through use of residual vision. This is achieved through visual contrast between TWSIs and the surrounding or adjacent surface. Visual contrast is influenced primarily by luminance contrast, and secondarily by difference in colour or tone. In order to have good visibility, it is necessary to have sufficient illumination without glare and it is important to maintain the visual contrast between TWSIs and the surrounding or adjacent surface.
While TWSIs should be effective for blind or vision-impaired persons, attention should also be paid to their surface structure and materials in order to ensure that all pedestrians, including those with impaired mobility, can safely and effectively negotiate them.
TWSIs are installed in public facilities, buildings used by many people, railway stations and on sidewalks and other walking surfaces. Attention patterns may be installed in the vicinity of pedestrian crossings, at-grade kerbs, railway platforms, stairs, ramps, escalators, travelators, elevators, etc. Guiding patterns may be used alone or in combination with attention patterns in order to indicate the walking route from one place to another.