[accessibleimage] maps on line and The Cartographic Journal vol 40

Hi,
I have just been into the Canadian site for maps on-line for visually
impaired.  They have maps for free download as .pdf and coreldraw files.
They have maps for education, mobility, transportation and tourism. Link
address
http://www.tactile.nrcan.gc.ca
English version http://www.tactile.nrcan.gc.ca/page.cgi?url=index_e.html
French version http://www.tactile.nrcan.gc.ca/page.cgi?url=index_f.html

Bravo Canada!

AND another section in this site called Web-4-All Maps has downloadable
interactive audio-tactile maps. Here is the link to information about
using the interactive audio-tactile  haptic maps

http://www.tactile.nrcan.gc.ca/page.cgi?url=inter_actif_active_e.html

and link to requirements for this interface
http://www.tactile.nrcan.gc.ca/page.cgi?url=recherche_research/hw_sw_required_e.html

You will need a SVG viewer that is freely available at Adobe.com, a touch
sensitive tablet  and a special mouse that gives feed back i.e vibrating
etc. Logitech is one such company that makes such mouses.  You can drop
the haptic bit when downloading if you wish ( a dialogue comes up and ask
if you want to download from Immersion Web plugin and then you don't get
the touch sensations). And

Flash maps (needs a Flash reader, get it from Macromedia.com)
http://www.tactile.nrcan.gc.ca/page.cgi?url=recherche_research/flash_e.html

SVG (scalable vector graphics) 
http://www.tactile.nrcan.gc.ca/page.cgi?url=recherche_research/svg_e.html

http://www.tactile.nrcan.gc.ca/page.cgi?url=recherche_research/svg_e.html

http://www.tactile.nrcan.gc.ca/page.cgi?url=recherche_research/svg2_e.html

And check out the future research projects, very interesting. Here they
talk about using GML (GIS information to a markup language like XML) and
VoiceXML.

A very interesting site. 

I think I have mentioned The Cartographic Journal vol 40  December 2003
filled with articles about tactile graphics before, but have just got the
journal in my hands and have started to read. Recommend it highly. An
excellent resource.That's where I found out about the Natural Resource
Canada site. Bit ashamed that I didn't know about it (the site) before.  

All the best,
Lisa

Lisa Yayla
Huseby Kompetansesenter 
Oslo Norway
lisa.yayla@xxxxxxxxxx


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