IOS: Information and
Orientation Systems
The Mission Statement of BAUM Retec AG is:
We support our blind and visually impaired Customers:
- to be successful at work and in their education;
- to improve quality of life;
- to reduce barriers in public areas.
With regard to the latter we planned and designed several solutions to reduce accessibility barriers in such situations.
A Totally New Product Line
- Wall and Stand "Info Terminals", equipped with Large Screen, Braille output and Speech output for the first time ever;
- Tactile Signs in rich contrast and tactile design and Tactile Floor Plans and Models in a - for blind and visually impaired people's - tactile shape that are easy to understand;
- "Talking Post" that gives specific information on demand.
A combination of these single products described above will lead to an integrative solution that reflect modern day demands. These concepts in Information and Orientation Systems will bring support to accessibility barriers a.o. in public spaces.
Such a concept of an integrative solution can be used very well in schools, resource centres, rehabilitation centres, public buildings, city halls, community houses, banks, libraries, train stations, bus stations, airports, hotels, nursing homes, hospitals, etc.
BAUM Retec and / or authorised Distributors can advise you about the possibilities, a project concept with a detailed proposal for an integrative solution as well as supplying you with complete and ready to install systems.
Tactile Signs
BAUM Retec's Signs are attractively shaped and because of both tactile and high-contrast design they can be optimally read by both blind as well as visually impaired people.
The special fixation of both letters as well as Braille dots is extremely durable and the prismatic surface of the letters is easy to feel for blind persons. A wide variety in designs, colors and dimensions is available.
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Accessible Signs:- High Contrast Letters/Signs |
Handrail Signs:- Same Design principle as above |
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Tactile Floor Plans and Models
If tactile signs are combined with overview maps, then whole tactile information systems will exist. This way complete buildings, or parts of it (i.e. floor plans), halls, terminals, etc. can be made accessible as a tactile model.
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Tactile Floor Plans and Models
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Accessible Info-Terminals
„Welcome to our Info-Terminal. Please press the red button to start our presentation.“
This is NOT the way your Info-Terminal should function!
This way blind and visually impaired persons are excluded from information access which conflicts with European or national legislation.
The heart of all Info-Terminals is a regular PC on which information is stored. Since a long time blind and visually impaired people can work with PC's, surf on the internet, etc., so a logical consequence is that they can also use Accessible Info-Terminals.
For that reason the Info-Terminals must be made accessible for blind and visually impaired people by means of speech output and Braille output (the contents of the computer screen is presented in speech as well as in Braille on a refreshable Braille display).
Visually impaired people will require a strong screen magnification possibility in order for them to read the screen contents comfortably.
If - as a next step - all information would be designed according to barrier-free webdesign regulations, then operating an Info-Terminal is easy also for blind and visually impaired persons.
Info-Terminals can be found in more and more public area's - however very, very difficult or rather not to use for the blind and visually impaired.
Info-Terminals are suitable for many applications. Not only in public area's, but also in special institutes for the blind and visually impaired where they can be used as a memo-board or as an access point to the internet.
Feel free to ask our advice in helping you to build your Concept!
Talking Post
Function
The Talking Post has an individually chosen number of keys
and after pressing a key spoken information will sound,
like e.g.: “Welcome to platform 8; the next train will
arrive at this platform in 10 minutes.”
Flexible Content
The spoken information can be altered in different ways:
In the first place, a Talking Post could be connected to an
already existing network. This way the contents of the
Talking Post can be managed centrally, fast and flexible.
Other ways of altering information are external media,
like e.g. USB-Sticks.
More Comfort for your Customers
The Talking Post is part of a complete concept and it will improve both orientation and information access . Therefore it will increase comfort with your Visitors / Customers as well as create a sense of care and safety whenever they are in your premises.
Design
The Talking Post not only improves information need and orientation to your Visitors / Customers:
due to its attractive design the Talking Post will adapt to any area where it is set up. The surface made of brushed stainless steel provides an elegant and individualistic appearance.
Contact:
BAUM Retec AG
In der Au 22
D-69257 Wiesenbach - Germany
Tel: +49 6223 4909-0
Fax: +49 6223 4909-7321
e-mail: n.vanweele@baum.de
Internet: www.baum.de
