三宅精一是谁？让我们认识一下这位盲道砖的发明者

你或许对本周一Google Doodle上致敬的发明家没有什么印象，但你很可能知道他的发明。是盲道砖的发明者，它在人行道、火车和地铁平台上得到了应用，以帮助那些有视力缺陷的人。

根据Doodle的介绍，三宅精一有一位视力受损的朋友，出行不便。于是三宅自费制作了盲道砖，它有着类似于乐高积木表面的圆点或长条，以提醒他的朋友前方的道路情况。凸起的圆点表示接近危险，例如人行道的边缘。凸起的长条则起到指向作用，告诉行人他们仍然在安全的道路上。

三宅精一在1965年发明了盲道砖，并在1967年3月18日首次应用于日本冈山的冈山盲人学校附近的一条街上。它们很快被推广到日本各地，并在日本火车站得到了强制使用。美国和加拿大等其他国家也在20世纪90年代开始效法日本。

盲道砖也被称作“盲人砖”，行人透过鞋子也能感知纹样。那些使用手杖的人也可以感觉到路上凸起的圆点和长条，而导盲犬经过训练也能识别它们。尽管带有标志性黄色的盲道砖最为显眼，不过也有其他颜色的盲道砖存在。（财富中文网）

译者：严匡正

The inventor featured in Monday’s Google Doodle may not immediately ring a bell, but your feet likely known his invention.

Seiichi Miyake is the inventor of the tactile, or Tenji blocks, which are used in public spaces like sidewalks and train and subway platforms to help those with visual impairments.

According to the Doodle, Miyake had a visually impaired friend, who was beginning to struggle to get around. Miyake used his own money to create the Tenji blocks, which typically feature either dots or bars similar to the tops of Legos, to alert his friend to what lay ahead. The raised dots on the Tenji blocks signify approaching danger, such as at the edge of a sidewalk. Raised bars are used as a directional tool, and let the user know they are still on a safe path.

Miyake invented the Tenji blocks in 1965, and they were first introduced on a street near the Okayama School for the Blind in Okayama City, Japan, on March 18, 1967. They were quickly implemented across Japan and were made mandatory in the country’s train stations. Other countries, such as the U.S. and Canada, followed suit in the ‘90s.

Tenji blocks, also known as “braille blocks,” can be felt through the user’s shoes. Those who use a cane can also feel the raised dots and bars that way, or guide dogs can be trained to read them. While Tenji blocks are perhaps best recognized in their signature yellow color, the blocks can be found in other colors as well.