Accessible maps
RNIB accessible maps
RNIB offer over 150 accessible maps to help you on your travels, from UK town centres to other international locations.
The majority of maps are available in braille, with a small selection produced in large print.
Search our online Book Site and online shop to find out what maps we have available.
If you can't find what you're looking for, please contact our Helpline on 0303 123 9999.
Other accessible maps
Do you have a smartphone? Then you've got an instant map in your pocket! Whether you're using an iPhone, Nokia, Google Android or BlackBerry, there'll be many maps available at your fingertips.
One of the best known is Google Maps, and the search engine giant has recently updated Mobile Maps (on its Android platform) to include walking navigation, with notifications of 'twists and turns' delivered through vibration or voice guidance. If you are an English speaker, you can also speak your destination instead of typing.
Global Positioning System (GPS) products
GPS is a method of finding your current location. GPS products can be very useful to blind or partially sighted people, providing location and guidance data using on-screen maps and voice prompts.
How GPS works
By calculating the distance between you and a number of satellites circling around the Earth, a GPS receiver can triangulate your location and use that information to guide you from one location to another.
Depending on the number of satellites available, it will give your current position to within 10 to 20 metres. Guidance to your destination is then provided by your GPS product using on-screen maps and voice prompts. GPS systems generally work on line of sight so only work reliably outside.
Using GPS products
You may be able to use a standard GPS product if you have enough sight to see the screen. Many mainstream GPS products give audible directions but there is usually no way of knowing what information you are typing into the unit. You need to be able to enter information such as addresses and postcodes in order for the system to guide you to your destination.
Some GPS systems are now adding speech recognition to enable the user to say the destination they want to find and the unit would then guide you by voice to that destination.
There are a number of other solutions which are specifically designed for blind and partially sighted people. These can be split into standalone products and software that runs on a mobile phone or PDA.
You can find out more about GPS products from our online shop.
RNIB React talking sign system
RNIB React is a talking sign system that provides information about location. It helps the person confirm where they are and it also often provides real time information like bus waiting times.
Find out more from the RNIB React webpages.