Altix, a specialist in the development and distribution of electronic equipment for the visually impaired, has installed four typhlographic airport maps at Warsaw Chopin Airport in Poland.
The work was carried out through the company’s charitable foundation Chance for the Blind and involved the design, manufacture and installation of the customized terminal maps, which contain audio information in Polish and English, as well as braille and raised lines and features representing walls, paths, symbols and objects.
After pressing the maps button, the user will hear information about the most important objects in their environment and in which direction they should go to reach them. Castings of the typhlographic plans are made from a combination of transparent resins placed on colored imprints. Thanks to its characteristics, the cast is pleasant to touch, and at the same time is highly resistant to mechanical damage.
It is the first time this technology has been used in Poland. The plans have been primarily prepared for the blind and visually impaired although the choice of colors has also been specially selected so the visually impaired, elderly or those suffering from color blindness can easily interpret what is on the map.
All the maps are equipped with bluetooth beacons so that passengers who have downloaded Altix’s Your Way application will be able to find the plans using their smartphone. Your Way is an application to remotely replay the messages of all the typhlographic plans located nearby. The app can be downloaded from the manufacturer’s site or by scanning the QR code on one of the typhlographic plans.