great japanese inventions (3)
....that may or may not have been invented in Japan
The Yellow Ribbed Pathway Guidance System for the Optically Challenged
For ants it's like climbing Mount Fuji every time they want to go somewhere, but for the optically challenged, it's the difference between a pleasant stroll on a peaceful Sunday morning and going under the wheels of a bus.
The Japanese have it sussed when it comes to guiding the blind. In the UK they have dogs to do the job. But in Japan most dogs look like this and so probably wouldn't be very good at guiding people....
"Where would you like to go?"
....so they took the canine out of the equation and invented the Yellow Ribbed Path Guidance System. But it's not all ribbing. There are nipples too. It's like Braille for feet.
The ribbed parts mean you can go straight ahead comfortable in the knowledge that a large truck will not be coming in the opposite direction.
When you come to the nipples, however, it's time to show some caution. If the nipples could talk, they would likely say: "You are about to walk onto a highway with cars, buses and lorries going in all manner of directions. Proceed with caution."
Basically, the nipples mean it's time to say a prayer.
But the Yellow Ribbed Pathway Guidance System doesn't always go to plan....
An optically challenged person is certain to have a right old time if they come across this little arrangement of a morn....
This is asking for trouble.
A close-up of a nipple....
Nipples save lives.
The Yellow Ribbed Pathway Guidance System for the Optically Challenged
For ants it's like climbing Mount Fuji every time they want to go somewhere, but for the optically challenged, it's the difference between a pleasant stroll on a peaceful Sunday morning and going under the wheels of a bus.
The Japanese have it sussed when it comes to guiding the blind. In the UK they have dogs to do the job. But in Japan most dogs look like this and so probably wouldn't be very good at guiding people....
"Where would you like to go?"
....so they took the canine out of the equation and invented the Yellow Ribbed Path Guidance System. But it's not all ribbing. There are nipples too. It's like Braille for feet.
The ribbed parts mean you can go straight ahead comfortable in the knowledge that a large truck will not be coming in the opposite direction.
When you come to the nipples, however, it's time to show some caution. If the nipples could talk, they would likely say: "You are about to walk onto a highway with cars, buses and lorries going in all manner of directions. Proceed with caution."
Basically, the nipples mean it's time to say a prayer.
But the Yellow Ribbed Pathway Guidance System doesn't always go to plan....
An optically challenged person is certain to have a right old time if they come across this little arrangement of a morn....
This is asking for trouble.
A close-up of a nipple....
Nipples save lives.
This entry was posted
on Sunday, May 24, 2009 at 9:30 am.
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On Sunday, 24 May, 2009,
Anonymous said:
On Sunday, 24 May, 2009,
Unbalanced Reaction said:
On Sunday, 24 May, 2009,
Anonymous said:
I saw a blind man once, but he was making his own way...
...perhaps there's something nefarious about the lines...maybe they lead blind people to their doom
On Sunday, 24 May, 2009,
Denisevents said:
On Sunday, 24 May, 2009,
Baron's Life said:
On Sunday, 24 May, 2009,
Risa said:
so what do you do?
In U.K at least people try and wlak straight along the pavement using paving stones as a guide....
In Japan perhaps they use the yellow lumpy lines, and the result is walking safely from crossing to crossing, and Japan doesn't lose its' work hard, drink hard, salary man workforce under trucks.
Win-win situation.
On Monday, 25 May, 2009,
john turningpin said:
Not that there's anything wrong with that. At all.
Aaw, yeah.
On Monday, 25 May, 2009,
Ojisanjake said:
http://ojisanjake.blogspot.com/2009/05/leading-blind.html
Not sure if the Japanese invented them, but it is said they were the first country to use them...
On Tuesday, 26 May, 2009,
Anonymous said:
They really do go everywhere. I can only imagine:
Bling guy: Is this the doctor's office?
Other: Nope, lighthouse...
Didn't see any blind people there either...
On Thursday, 28 May, 2009,
Scotty.VOR said:
On Thursday, 28 May, 2009,
Anonymous said:
I wouldn't put it past Japan...
On Thursday, 11 June, 2009,
Amy said:
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