Visual Impairment

Visual impairment refers to a condition in which a person's vision is

significantly impaired, making it difficult for them to see or interpret
visual information. It can range from mild to severe and can be caused
by various factors such as eye diseases, injuries, or congenital
conditions. Visual impairment may result in reduced visual acuity
(sharpness of vision), limited field of vision, or difficulties with color
perception. People with visual impairments often rely on assistive
devices or techniques such as glasses, magnifiers, braille, or screen-
reading software to enhance their ability to perceive and navigate the
visual world. Team names:
Youmna Elsayed 2001262
Noha Hussien 2001353
Donia Khaled Mohamed 2000345
.The target group for visual impairment includes individuals of all ages
who have varying degrees of vision loss or blindness. This can include
people with congenital visual impairments, those who have acquired
visual impairments due to injury or disease, and older adults who may
experience age-related vision loss. It is important to note that within
this target group, there is a wide range of specific needs and abilities,
so it is essential to consider individual circumstances when providing
support or accommodations.
.Types of Vision Problems Blurred
vision (called refractive errors)Age-
related macular degeneration.
Glaucoma .
Cataract.
Diabetic retinopathy.
Applications: People with visual impairments can use screen readers,
which are software programs that convert text into speech or braille,
to access digital content such as websites, documents, and emails.
They can also use optical character recognition (OCR) technology to
scan printed materials and convert them into accessible formats.
Another application example is the use of navigation aids for
people with visual impairments. GPS-enabled devices or
smartphone apps can provide audio instructions and real-time
location information to help individuals navigate unfamiliar
environments independently. These aids can also include features
like obstacle detection and tactile maps to enhance mobility and
safety.
Architecture for the visually impaired by Taller de Architectura
Mauricio Rocha + Gabriela Carrillo forces us to ‘see’ in new ways
Composing a space for the blind means asking yourself how to see
with other senses. It means rediscovering all the sensations that
are muted by the dominance of vision. Odour has spatiality. Sound
is a living entity. We have learned that building for the blind is not
only a specific act, but demands that we start to ‘see’ architecture
from different perspectives, and ask new questions.

In 2012, we designed the renovation of an existing library for the blind as part
of Ciudad de los Libros, a masterplan that involved a series of renovations in
the Biblioteca de México José Vasconcelos. Blindness in Mexico comes mainly
from poorly treated, degenerative diseases, so the majority of users have
partial visual impairment and have only gradually begun to lose their sight.
During that transition the vision is blurred, sometimes becoming
monochromatic, with yellow as the most easily visible colour. While reading
braille requires no light, for the visually impaired contrasts between light,
shadow and gloom are perceptible, and indirect lighting ideal.
Light is more important than one might expect in a library for the blind. Most visitors
have only partial impairment and determine space through contrast between light and
shadow, and many will visit with sighted children, who were not accounted for in the
design for the library that predated Rocha and Carrillo’s renovation. In the new library, a
play area and toy library host the children on low tables, the cabins that hold the sound
booths floating at first floor level over an open ground floor plan.

References
-Building for the blind - Architectural Review (architectural-
review.com)
-https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/visual-impairment.html
-Chat GPT