<body><script type="text/javascript"> function setAttributeOnload(object, attribute, val) { if(window.addEventListener) { window.addEventListener('load', function(){ object[attribute] = val; }, false); } else { window.attachEvent('onload', function(){ object[attribute] = val; }); } } </script> <div id="navbar-iframe-container"></div> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://apis.google.com/js/platform.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> gapi.load("gapi.iframes:gapi.iframes.style.bubble", function() { if (gapi.iframes && gapi.iframes.getContext) { gapi.iframes.getContext().openChild({ url: 'https://www.blogger.com/navbar.g?targetBlogID\x3d11451155\x26blogName\x3dan+englishman+in+osaka\x26publishMode\x3dPUBLISH_MODE_BLOGSPOT\x26navbarType\x3dBLUE\x26layoutType\x3dCLASSIC\x26searchRoot\x3dhttps://anenglishmaninosaka.blogspot.com/search\x26blogLocale\x3den_GB\x26v\x3d2\x26homepageUrl\x3dhttp://anenglishmaninosaka.blogspot.com/\x26vt\x3d-654230516656993543', where: document.getElementById("navbar-iframe-container"), id: "navbar-iframe" }); } }); </script>

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.
« Home | Next »
| Next »
| Next »
| Next »
| Next »
| Next »
| Next »
| Next »
| Next »
| Next »

On Sunday, 24 May, 2009, Anonymous Anonymous said:

Nipples do save lives. In more than one way.  



On Sunday, 24 May, 2009, Blogger Unbalanced Reaction said:

That would be a great slogan to promote on t-shirts.  



On Sunday, 24 May, 2009, Anonymous Anonymous said:

The entire country is laid out with yellow lines and nipples, and I've yet to see an actual blind person using them...

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, Anonymous Denisevents said:

Good I was looking forward to write an article on this. Done. Or I might do it differently. But it is worth mentioning. Congratulation!  



On Sunday, 24 May, 2009, Blogger Baron's Life said:

and where else would these visually challenged people get to feel some nipples for free...Thanks for sharing this story  



On Sunday, 24 May, 2009, Blogger Risa said:

I saw more blind-drunk than actual blind peopel using these, think of the psychology of it,while drunk you want to prove to everyone around yhat you are "jushht fimeee"
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, Anonymous john turningpin said:

I sense an emphasis on nipples in this post.

Not that there's anything wrong with that. At all.

Aaw, yeah.  



On Monday, 25 May, 2009, Blogger Ojisanjake said:

I posted on the exact same subject 3 days ago!!!!
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 Anonymous said:

I actually realized yesterday that there are yellow lines and nipples leading all the way out onto a long pier to a lonely red lighthouse...

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, Anonymous Scotty.VOR said:

I think you're all over playing the blind/hard of sight aspect of this. I say, these are for gropers. Perverts need to get to lighthouses too...I'm told.  



On Thursday, 28 May, 2009, Anonymous Anonymous said:

So the nipples are a pathway for pervs?

I wouldn't put it past Japan...  



On Thursday, 11 June, 2009, Blogger Amy said:

Yeah, we have these in Melbourne now too. They're pretty new-ish and bus stops and train stations, crossings, etc are gradually being upgraded to have the lines and nipples.  



» Post a Comment