A Comparative Study on the Braille Elevator Signage Systems in Public Buildings in Hong Kong and Taiwan

• Main Authors: Mao-pin Su, 蘇懋彬
• Other Authors: ltseng
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2010
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/27676554495971796825

碩士 === 逢甲大學 === 建築所 === 98 === Elevators are the primary means which the visually impaired rely on when they travel from one floor to another in a multi-story building. The Braille elevator plates in- and outside of an elevator provide them the assistance and accessibility to crucial information they need in order to locate their positions as well as to navigate through various levels in a building. In 2008, the Construction and Planning Agency at the Ministry of the Interior (CPAMI) in Taiwan announced the implementation of the new version of “Design Specifications for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities”. The new guideline provides more specific design requirements for elevator features; however, requirements for the Braille elevator signage system remain inadequate. Hong Kong became a colony of the British Empire and now is a special administrative region of the People''s Republic of China, is the leading area in the world to develop and thoroughly implement design guidelines for a barrier free environment. Therefore, this study investigated Braille elevator signage system in public buildings in all eighteen districts of Hong Kong and attempted to compare the Hong Kong system with that of Taiwan to discuss any difference or similarity between the systems in the two areas. This study also aimed to provide suggestions for future architectural regulation makers as well as references to Taiwanese educational institutions for the visually impaired during their planning and implementation of the universal design of Braille elevator signage system which will bring Taiwan’s system in line with international standards. The research outcomes of this study were: 1. to gain a better understanding of the current Braille elevator signage systems in Hong Kong 2. to establish information database on the Braille elevator signage design in Taiwan 3. to provide suggestions for planning and implementing Braille elevator signage 4. to establish a comparison table for Braille elevator signage systems in Taiwan and Hong Kong 5. to establish the ranking system and grading pattern of the Braille elevator signage systems in Hong Kong