The assistance systems developed within the collaborative research center 627 for people with sensory
disabilities offer the possibility to support students with visual impairment while navigating
on the campus of the university. The so-called TANIA system (Tactile Acoustical Navigation and Information
Assistant) was developed within the Visualization and Interactive Systems Group. TANIA makes it possible
for blind users to orientate themselves even within unknown environments and to be guided to selected
destinations. For this purpose it is necessary to map the environment using an adequate format. These maps are
available for the computer science building.
The aim of the project "Assistance for people with sensory disabilities at the University of
Stuttgart" (ASBUS) is to extend this mapping to the complete university. This would allow to
make an independent navigation possible within all public spaces of the university, in accordance
with UN conventions and accessibility laws.
Within the framework of this project additional relevant information for students with sensory
disabilities shall be integrated into the TANIA system. This should be the basis of a self-determined
participation in the life at the university and of context-based learning. For example, the access
to the academic studies shall be facilitated for blind beginners by location-based advices to courses.
All kind of text information can be accessed with the TANIA system acoustically or by using a connected
portable Braille display.
Finally, offers or services from other parties shall be integrated into the system, e.g., the context-based
access to schedules of public transportation or other services of the city of Stuttgart.
The ASBUS project started on the January 1st 2009. It is funded by tuition fees and project resources provided by the university board.
The project administration is assisted by an advisory council.
