Researchers at the Hasso-Plattner-Institute (HPI) in Berlin are developing a tactile display, called “Linespace”, which allows the visualization of complex spatial data to blind people.
A 3D-printer head, navigated by voice- and gesture control, draws plastic lines on a drawing board, which can be explored with one’s fingers. This allows, among other things, to enlarge detail-cutouts. Students of the Institute developed different prototype applications for this machine, which were tested by visually impaired people from Berlin.
More Information about “Linespace” can be found here.