Tactile treasure map: Integrating allocentric and egocentric information for tactile guidance

Abstract

With interactive maps a person can manage to find the way from one point to another, using an allocentric perspective (e.g. Google Maps), but also looking at a location as from the inside of the map with an egocentric perspective (e.g. Google Street View). Such experience cannot be performed with tactile maps, mostly explored from a top-view. To solve this, we built a system with two different but complementary devices. When coupled, they can provide both allocentric and egocentric spatial information to support the exploration of interactive tactile maps. To show the potential of the system, we built a blind treasure hunt.