Touch Mapper

Tactile maps easily. 3D-print or order a map of any address.

[Touch Mapper @touchmapper]

Changed address search from Google to OpenStreetMap. This should end any problems with the search not working.

[Touch Mapper @touchmapper]

@squix78 @openstreetmap Pää

[Neal Mckenzie @neal_at]

New school means new #3Dpirinted #Tactile maps. Took no time at all using @touchmapper and then @tinkercad for a few adjustments. In 3 hours will have a map to go along with summer O&M!

[Touch Mapper @touchmapper]

@JoanHorvath Many have thought what you think, but in reality it's not hard to get off the platform once it has cooled, the line features print fine, and the maps are flexible, rather than fragile. They have been carefully tuned to print well and quickly, and to be clear for blind people.

[Touch Mapper @touchmapper]

Embossers and swell paper are now supported in addition to 3D printing. I'm interested in hearing how it works out for all of you!

[Touch Mapper @touchmapper]

@JoanHorvath The base is 0.6mm thick, so it's surprising if it doesn't print due to its thinness. Unless the extruder is bigger than that, which I imagine isn't the case here? Can I download this STL and/or Cura file somwhere?

[Touch Mapper @touchmapper]

@JoanHorvath I've never tried or heard of the maps being printed vertically, nor that the base would disappear, so those two might be connected. The STL isn't manifold; the base and roads etc overlap a bit by design. At least Cura and Simplify3D do a perfect job of joining all the objects.

[Touch Mapper @touchmapper]

@JoanHorvath I assume you mean the base disappears when you scale down. The idea is not to scale the resulting STL file, but instead select smaller dimensions for the map in Touch Mapper. The border goes away if you select "Show advanced options" and then "Print a part of a multipart map".

[Touch Mapper @touchmapper]

@greeninfo @lighthouse_sf @MaptimeSF Similar service but using also 3D printing: https://t.co/ape9yxtcfU

[Touch Mapper @touchmapper]

@hilse @ScienceAndMaps @openstreetmap Laser cutters have been used in tactile map production, but to my understanding they are not faster, easier or cheaper. Braille labels would be nice, though there isn't space for a whole lot of them. Too much information is a common problem in tactile maps.

[Touch Mapper @touchmapper]

@TheMapSmith @ScienceAndMaps @MapPornTweet @openstreetmap No, they are all just tactile maps.

[Touch Mapper @touchmapper]

@TheMapSmith @ScienceAndMaps @MapPornTweet @openstreetmap It's incorrect to call tactile map a braille map even, though that's commonly done. A tactile map is any map that is meant to be used by touch. They don't necessarily allow independent navigation, but they are often helpful. Labels, for example street names in braille, can help.

[Touch Mapper @touchmapper]

@TheMapSmith @ScienceAndMaps @MapPornTweet @openstreetmap Visual styles of buildings? It's fun for everybody to know what things look like, but maps are mostly focused on practical needs.

[Touch Mapper @touchmapper]

@jolynns @ScienceAndMaps @openstreetmap There is no standard iconography for tactile maps. It would be nice if there was. However it's hard to tell apart the shape of small tactile objects, so it pretty much comes down to elevating relevant things, maybe adding texture, plus small amounts of text in braille.

[Touch Mapper @touchmapper]

@TVI_Adam @CNIBBC Would be glad to hear how it works out :)

[Scott D. @sid_bryper]

"But why not just use Google maps?" Because OpenStreetMap data makes this kind of thing possible:
https://t.co/ApaWloiVLZ

[Touch Mapper @touchmapper]

Code is now #OpenSource, so you can build new things on top of it. Also a web site update, to work better with screen readers. #tactilemaps

[Touch Mapper @touchmapper]

@carnegielibrary You might also be interested in https://t.co/qahil0lSJ0