Tactile Maps
ANTJE: Hello and welcome to our presentation of Tactile Maps. My name is Antje Mönnig, I'm a graphic designer in the Department for Product Development at the German Centre for Accessible Reading in Leipzig, Germany. We have produced Tactile Maps since many years and I'm proud to present you some information about our process and products. A very extensive project over several years is our German Atlas consisting of 26 Maps, statistics and an accompanying letter. The examples in my presentation are taken from the German Atlas. So let's start. We are using the thermoforming process to produce or relief using transparent foil. To deform the foil plastically, we manufacture our own dyes. We cut our pre-sized shapes which are fitted together and glued in place. They are mainly composed of heat resistant material and we are able to create some heights and significant surfaces. Heat deforms the foil to the shape of the dye and the foil becomes a transparent relief. In the final product the relief is placed on a colour print and they form a unit. Our colleagues in the department for tactile graphics adapt maps from the Haack Weltatlas. Corresponding to user needs we create a reduced standardised display of maps and use contrast in colour, braille and large print. By adapting maps we generalise and focus on the most important information like national and international borders, capital cities and some selected cities, as well as waters, mountains and landscapes. For an intuitive handling the symbols used on every map are the same. We use simple and large enough icons as well as different types of lines. A triangle, for example, as a symbol for a mountain. Lake are mapped in their original shape and for tactile perception shapes of lakes and seas filled with textile lines representing water. To identify every icon of course we use labels and abbreviations. Every label is written in large print and in braille. For the braille we use in addition to abbreviations another braille character, which indicates if it is a state, a federal state, a water mountain or landscape. For example the abbreviation for the river Elbe is the braille character for waters, which is point 4 and 6 and the braille character for E. The German Atlas consists of 13 maps representing the federal States of Germany. For each of them exists a general map that gives the user an overview by reference points like cities and the water network. Furthermore, we created physical maps with mountains, landscapes, and information about the surface of the area. For each map, you receive a general and a physical map. To manage the different skills and requirements of our customers, We offer two variants of the German Atlas. The expert version consists of many information as possible and especially for tactile adapt users and experts. The second one is a down-scaled version to give beginners the opportunity to develop tactile skills step by step and practise them, be concentrated on less information. This version is gladly used in geography lessons in school as well. Last but not least, we would like to draw your attention to our bilingual product the World Atlas, which consists of about 50 maps. The maps are all available in German and English. So if you're interested in our maps, please get in touch. We'll be delighted to consult you personally and individually. Thank you for your attention.