Assistance systems developed at the University of Stuttgart offer the possibility to support students with visual impairment while navigating on the campus. One of these systems for people with sensory disabilities is the TANIA system (Tactile Acoustical Navigation and Information Assistant). The TANIA system was developed in the Visualization and Interactive Systems Group within the framework of the collaborative research center 627. Blind users of TANIA can orientate themselves even within unknown environments and navigate to selected destinations. For this purpose it is necessary to map the environment using an adequate format.

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 in compliance with UN conventions and accessibility laws. Additionally, relevant information for students with sensory disabilities is continuously integrated into the TANIA system's maps. This is 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 will 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.