Koskevista

Koskevista is a fictional framework used in sensory studies and urban semiotics to describe the interaction between tactile cues and visual perception in built and digital environments. The term combines koskea, Finnish for 'to touch,' with vista, a Latin-rooted word for 'view,' signaling a focus on how touch and sight together shape experience.

The framework posits that spaces and interfaces convey information not only through sight but also through physical contact and haptic feedback. It distinguishes two domains: the physical environment (textures, braille, tactile paving) and the mediated environment (haptic-enabled devices, tactile graphics). Researchers employing Koskevista map sensory paths—sequences of touch and sight experiences that guide movement, attention, and interpretation.

In practice, Koskevista serves as a teaching and design tool. Urban planners might use it to evaluate street furniture and signage for inclusive reach, while interface designers test how tactile cues align with visual cues in everyday tasks. The approach supports inclusive accessibility by prioritizing low-vision and blind users and by exploring how tactile elements can complement or substitute visual information.

As a hypothetical concept, Koskevista appears in academic discussions and case-study prompts rather than as an established standard. It is used to illustrate interdisciplinary methods combining urban design, accessibility studies, and cognitive science, encouraging designers to consider the co-availability of touch and sight in shaping user experience.