a

Special Report

Tactile walking
surface indicators The World Health Organization has
reported that the world now has 285 million

Making streets safer people with visual impairments, 39 million

of whom are totally blind, and 246 million

for visually impaired pedestrians of whom have low vision. Although many
people who are visually impaired travel
independently, wayfinding can be difficult
in congested areas and where there are no
features that can be used for guidance, for
example walls, kerbs and changes in tex-
by Hidekatsu Aoki and Seiji Mitani ture such as between pavement (sidewalk)
and grass.

The newly published ISO 23599:2012, Assistive products for blind The role of TWSIs
and vision-impaired persons – Tactile walking surface indicators,
TWSIs are widely used in many developed
will contribute to high quality and consistency in the use of tactile
and some developing countries to provide
walking surface indicators (TWSI). Around the world, this standard wayfinding information to pedestrians who
will make urban streets safer for people with visual impairments. are visually impaired. TWSIs are also used

28 ISO Focus + July-August 2012

to alert people with visual impairments when (standardized as ISO 23600:2007, Assistive can complement, but do not replace, the
they are approaching a hazard such as the products for persons with vision impair- requirement for tactual information.
edge of a platform, a flight of stairs or the ments and persons with vision and hearing Among their advantages, TWSIs can lead
end of the pavement and the beginning of impairments − Acoustic and tactile signals users precisely to a destination, can be used
the street. They are used in indoor as well for pedestrian traffic lights). to provide information both indoors and
as outdoor locations. outdoors, do not require electric power and
By providing information for safety and do not require users to purchase or maintain
wayfinding, TWSIs improve the confidence, any special equipment.
ISO 23599 will enable the
independence and quality of life of people TWSIs were originally developed in
who are visually impaired. This is achieved safe and secure travel of 1965 by Seiichi Miyake who lived in
by enabling them to participate in employ- people with visual impair- Okayama, a city about 550 kilometers
ment, social, recreational, educational, ments around the world. southwest of Tokyo. He did this with the
cultural and religious activities. cooperation of a friend who was becoming
There are other systems and devices for vision impaired.
providing wayfinding and safety informa- It is now possible for people who are TWSIs were first installed to indicate
tion to people who are visually impaired. visually impaired to use both GPS-based, the location of a pedestrian crossing, but
These include accessible signals that use real-time wayfinding information and they are now used to provide information
sound and/or vibration to provide informa- some electronic information systems for for wayfinding and safety on railway plat-
tion for crossing at pedestrian traffic lights public buildings. Such electronic systems forms, pavements and in public facilities.

1. 2.

3. 4.

5. 6.

TWSIs around the world : 1. in the United Kingdom – 2. in Germany – 3. in Australia – 4. in Hong Kong – 5. in the USA – 6. in Switzerland.

ISO Focus + July-August 2012 29

 a

Special Report

addition, research was taking place in many

countries, and divergent national standards
were being developed.
The installation of TWSIs is relatively
expensive, and development of a standard
that required the retrofit of TWSIs became
an impractical goal. If visually-impaired
pedestrians and travellers have become
used to particular types of installations in
an area or country where they live, chang-
ing them would lead to confusion and loss
of confidence in the system.
Nonetheless, development of a standard
based on the consolidated findings of sci-
ence, technology and experience remained
desirable to encourage consistency in new
installations of TWSIs, and to increase
quality of the products.

Originally, two types of TWSIs were used : A working group was therefore set up
a pattern of truncated domes to indicate under ISO technical committee ISO/TC 173,
danger ; and a pattern of raised bars to Assistive products for persons with disability,
indicate a direction to walk. Their benefit to develop standards for TWSIs to ensure
has been well acknowledged, and their use they would provide effective information
is now quite widespread. for safety and wayfinding, and would be
as consistent as possible globally.

Consistency is important Challenges involved

First TWSIs installed at a pedestrian
for people who are Around 1990, the first working group crossing (Traffic Safety Research Center. Inc.
www.tsrc.or.jp).
visually impaired. (WG 6) on the standardization of TWSIs
was established under ISO/TC 173. How- The standard is intended to ensure that best
ever, the work was cancelled and restarted practice is followed by countries that do not
Over many years, extensive research in twice because consensus could not be have TWSIs or do not yet have widespread
various countries has established that both reached within the ISO time limit. In March installations of TWSIs. Travellers who are
truncated domes and raised bars are highly 2012, ISO 23599 was finally completed by visually impaired can then have reasonable
detectable when used in association with ISO/TC 173, working group WG 8, Tactile confidence in the consistent presence, type
typical walking surfaces, and that they are walking surface indicators, under the chair- and meaning of TWSIs as they travel from
distinguishable from each other. manship of Dr. Shigeru Yamauchi of Japan. one country to another.
The lengthy development period for this The scope of the standard says that “ it
Standardization needed standard occurred largely because, both is not intended to replace requirements and
before and during the standard’s develop- recommendations contained in…national
Since 1965, TWSI surface textures have ment, the use of TWSIs was becoming standards, regulations and guidelines ” based
been modified, and systems of installation
increasingly widespread and varied. In on the findings of science, technology and
have become somewhat varied, not only
between countries, but also within coun-
tries. Multiple patterns, sizes, colours and
specifications of materials and systems for
installation can now be found.
However, consistency is important when
providing tactile information for people
who are visually impaired. These people
are unable, or have limited ability, to use
vision to confirm information about the
environment.
When different TWSIs are used in differ-
ent ways from one place to another, there
is a high probability that pedestrians with
visual impairments will find them confusing,
and may not use them effectively. Two main patterns of TWSIs : “ Attention ” pattern and “ Guiding ” pattern.

30 ISO Focus + July-August 2012

experience. However, “ national design
standards should provide for high-quality
products and consistent TWSI systems
within a country.”

Contents of the standard

ISO 23599 includes both technical stand-
ards for TWSI surfaces and principles for
installation. Technical standards include
the shape, dimensions, arrangements and
spacing of texture elements for TWSIs
that have been demonstrated to promote
accurate detection and identification both
under foot and by the use of the long white
cane. There is also a technical standard for
luminance contrast, assuring that TWSIs
will be maximally visible to people with
low vision.
Principles for installation are followed
by an annex of examples of TWSIs in dif-
ferent situations, including at pedestrian Members of ISO/TC 173, Assistive products for persons with disability, WG 8, Tactile walking
crossings, at grade kerbs, railway platforms, surface indicators.
stairs, ramps, escalators, lifts (elevators)
and revolving doors. guiding system. In others, attention patterns addition, the comfort and safety of people
and guiding patterns are used as a system, with mobility impairments are considered.
but the guiding patterns are not used where This standard gives some choices in areas
Travellers who are good natural guidance is provided by features such as shapes, dimensions, arrangements,
such as walls, building lines and curbs. formula of the luminance and method of
visually impaired installation. This is to give certain flexibility
can have reasonable Characteristics and use when considering different national circum-
confidence. stances. However, we strongly recommend
Based on the consolidated findings of sci- that any choices adopted by a country be
ence, technology and experience in various applied consistently throughout that country.
countries, ISO 23599 aims to specify the The technical experts engaged in devel-
Explanatory information with each
most detectable and recognizable shapes, oping ISO 23599 sincerely hope that this
example always begins with the expres-
sion “ When used… ”. There is, therefore, dimensions and luminance of TWSIs. It also standard will contribute to the consistent use
no absolute requirement for TWSIs to be aims to specify best practice in installation and excellence of TWSIs and, in so doing,
used in all types of locations. to ensure wayfinding and safety of users enable the safe and secure travel of people
ISO 23599 recognizes that national who are blind or who have low vision. In with visual impairments around the world. 
standards vary in the types of situations
or locations requiring TWSIs. This may
be because of specific construction design About the authors
and materials (such as for pavements) and
special physical, climatic and/or social Dr. Seiji Mitani Hidekatsu Aoki
situations in different countries. holds the Sec- holds the Sec-
Two textures (patterns) are used for retariat of ISO retariat of
TWSIs. An “ attention pattern ” comprises technical commit- ISO/TC 173/WG 8.
truncated domes or cones, and is used tee ISO/TC 173, He worked at the
primarily to indicate hazards and decision Assistive products Product Safety
points. A decision point may be at the for persons with Technology Center
intersection of two guiding paths, or at a disability, work- of the National In-
change of direction along a guiding path. ing group WG 8, stitute of Technol-
A “ guiding pattern ” comprises raised bars Tactile walking surface indicators. He has ogy and Evaluation in Japan from 2004
and is used to guide visually-impaired been working at the Product Safety Tech- to 2011. Mr. Aoki holds a Bachelor of
pedestrians to particular places such as nology Center of the National Institute of Mechanical Engineering from Hiroshima
pedestrian crossings, entrances to buildings, Technology and Evaluation in Japan since University in Japan.
lifts and other amenities. 1993. Dr. Mitani holds a Doctorate of
In some countries, attention patterns and Welfare Technology from the University
guiding patterns are used as a continuous of Tokushima in Japan.

ISO Focus + July-August 2012 31