Blab [Interview] “The Future City Paved by Coded Braille Tiles That Help Visually Impaired People Navigate on Their Own” The 29th installment of the Neurodiversity Interview Series.
In this article, we introduce the research of Professor Kunio Matsui of the Department of Intelligent Information Systems, School of Information and Engineering, Kanazawa Institute of Technology, titled “The Future City Paved by Coded Braille Tiles That Support Independent Mobility for the Visually Impaired.”
I’m very happy to hear that this article has been very well received among Professor Matsui’s colleagues.
Professor Matsui also shared some encouraging words, saying that while answering my questions, he experienced a strange sensation similar to a runner’s high—as if his thoughts were being logically organized in his mind—and that it left him feeling refreshed.
In this interview series, we often hear researchers say things like, “It helped me organize my thoughts” or “It gave me a clear idea of what to work on next.”
I would be very happy if this were not only a way to convey the appeal of research but also a place where researchers themselves can deepen their thinking.
https://neuro-diversity.world/report/interview_2026_matsui/
Professor, Keio University; Ph.D. (Policy and Media)
Director, B Lab
Chairperson, Learning of Tomorrow (General Incorporated Association)
Chairperson, CANVAS
After graduating from the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Tokyo, he served as a visiting researcher at the MIT Media Lab before founding the NPO CANVAS and the Learning of Tomorrow Association, a General Incorporated Association, and assuming the role of representative. He serves as an outside director for Matsuya Co., Ltd., Fuji Media Holdings, Inc., and Digital Garage, Inc.
He has served on various government committees, including the Information and Communications Council of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, as well as the NHK Central Broadcasting Program Council. He also serves as a director of the Digital Signage Consortium, among other roles. He holds a Ph.D. in Policy and Media.
His publications include *Turning On Children’s Creativity!*, *What Are Smart Kids Doing on Their Smartphones?*, *The Forefront of Online Education in Japan: Considering Learning in the Post-COVID Era*,“What Is Programming Education? 45 Questions Parents Want to Know,” and “Declaration on Digital Education.” He has also provided supervision for numerous works, including “Ah, I See! Programming Education for Parents and Children Through Manga.”
