Aug 10, 2026, 6:54 AMRecently I learned about TouchMapper: Create tactile maps easily for any address.
They use #OpenStreetMap to create printable 3D models of an area, for people with no/bad vision to literally get a feel for the place.
I love the initiative!
#maps #accessibility #inclusion #vision #3dprinting #AwesomeStuff
@sybren There used to be another one that also took in elevation data that gives a far more satisfying result but I can't find it right now. Touchmapper makes it look like I'm in the states instead of the highlands of Scotland.
@sybren It's not the same as the system I used to use (remembered that was a blender script) but this site is very promising and far more customisable.
Aug 10, 2026, 1:31 PM@sp4rkr4t Adding elevation would make it next-level indeed (pun very much intended).
@sybren This is amazing. Bookmarked the site. I actually wish this had been around back when I was doing tour guiding as having one of the city centre / main points of interest would've been so useful.
@sybren I wonder if that couldn't simply be a "layer" in OpenStreetMap: with a phone or trackpad vibration when sliding the finger over objects. - Does that exist already?
@sybren I've done a few elevation and touchmaps for blind people and it's been hugely rewarding. One of the lovely remarks was he didn't believe that what he was touching were trees, because they were higher than the houses and he just never knew that was the case!
Aug 10, 2026, 1:30 PM@boxly 😻