366 eCAADe 24 - session 9: digital design media: theory Development of 3D Tactile Models for the Partially Sighted to Facilitate Spatial Orientation Andreas Voigt and Bob Martens Vienna University of Technology, Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Austria http://arch.tuwien.ac.at; http://raum.tuwien.ac.at Lacking or poor provision of comprehensive information about the spatial en- vironment for the purposes of effective orientation is a problem that primarily affects the blind and partially sighted, but it can also cause dificulties for older people with increasing visual impairment. This research project in progress aims to obtain new scientiic indings with regard to the basic suitability and required composition of tactile models to facilitate spatial orientation for the blind and par- tially sighted. Tactile scale models serve as an orientation aid. Their intention is to make it easier for visually impaired people to “experience” selected structural characteristics of the real space, even if in scaled-down form. This experience allows them to experiment with space and to better recognize spatial elements and their interrelationships. It also helps them to better recognize subspaces, pos- sible spatial sequences, as well as decision-making situations in these spaces. These tactile processes are supported by the highly sensitive tactile faculties of people with visual impairment, which are far more inely differentiated than those of sighted people who experience objects without this disability. The amount of available digital model data is constantly growing and would allow for the cre- ation of tactile models. Keywords: rapid prototyping; 3D printing (3DP); visual impairment; scale mod- eling; haptical interface Project aim and scope A tactile model serves as an orientation aid for the blind and partially sighted in the (built) environment (urban space, architectural objects): by produc- ing physical scale models with appropriate haptic qualities, the aim is to convey “tangible” information about a spatial context. This applies to both outdoor and indoor spatial situations. In addition, a model of this kind can give a clear idea of a spatial expanse as well as of the relationships between individual parts of a building through “spatialization” of ground plans and cross-sections. The project comprises the following compo- nents: Based on a series of validated psychological perception tests with prototype tactile models, pro- cedures for the development of models as an orien- tation aid for the blind and partially sighted are to be validated and conceptually expanded. Three-dimen- sional model prints, mainly generated using rapid