Tactile Maps: New Materials and Improved Designs

Horsfall, B.

doi:10.1177/0145482x9709100110

Cited by 10 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 5 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…tile images are produced using a variety of substrates (background materials), depending on the production method that is used (Horsfall, 1997;Morley & Gunn, 2002). For example, the microcapsule process uses cloth-embedded paper that contains heat-activated microcapsules, embossed graphics are produced using paper, thermoform uses thermoplastic polymers, and screen printing is done on a wax-based paper.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

An Evaluation of Substrates for Tactile Maps and Diagrams: Scanning Speed and Users’ Preferences

Jehoel

Ungar

McCallum

et al. 2005

Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study evaluated the relative suitability of a range of base materials for producing tactile maps and diagrams via a new ink-jet process. The visually impaired and sighted participants tactilely scanned arrays of symbols that were printed on seven substrate materials, including paper, plastic, and aluminum. In general, the rougher substrates were scanned faster than the smoother substrates, and the majority of participants preferred the rougher substrates over the smoother ones.

show abstract

mentioning

confidence: 99%

An Evaluation of Substrates for Tactile Maps and Diagrams: Scanning Speed and Users’ Preferences

Jehoel

Ungar

McCallum

et al. 2005

Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…To create the haptic representation, we started from black and white images (Figure 1), rendered in tactile form with the Minolta technique (Horsfall, 1997). This technique consists in drawing (or copying) the features to be relief-printed on a specific sheet of paper (available in A3 and A4 format) on which a layer of heatsensitive micro-capsules is deposited.…”

Section: Design Of Haptic Representation and Preliminary Testsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Design and evaluation of a multi-sensory representation of scientific data

Varano

Zanella²

2023

Front. Educ.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

IntroductionModern sciences and Astrophysics in particular study objects and phenomena not visible in physical terms, that is they cannot be investigated with the eyes or analogous optical systems. Nevertheless, they make intensive use of visual representations, showing data in a figurative way, using lights, shadows, colors, and shapes familiar to the user and aesthetically pleasant. Besides being inaccessible for Blind and Visually Impaired (BVI) users, such figurative visual representation can lead to misunderstandings about the real nature of the represented object, physically invisible, particularly if the representation code is not declared. In this work we argue that multi-sensory representations clearly arbitrary, i.e., that do not aim to imitate reality, are a valid choice for an effective learning and understanding of astronomical science and for an effective meaning-making process for all. The presence of a cognitively challenging code of representation can make the fruition more conscious and attentive, leading to a deeper understanding of the represented reality, also mirroring the search for relevant information proper of basic research. In an equity perspective, multi-sensory representations also create an effective common ground for inclusion among people with diverse abilities, skills, and learning styles, in the framework of Universal Design for Learning.MethodsIn order to investigate our hypothesis we designed two mono-sensory representation (one only haptic and the other only acoustic) and tested them in individual and group workshops with both sighted and BVI users. We then used our results to guide the design of a multi-sensory representation of non-visible astronomical data including visual, acoustic, and haptic stimuli. We tested this representation as well, in order to refine and propose it to the public.ResultsThe result is the exhibit “Sense the Universe,” to be used for outreach and education. “Sense the Universe” was part of a museum exhibition attended both by sighted and BVI users, where we collected feedback about the final outcome of our work.DiscussionOur findings suggest the validity of multi-sensory representations for a truly and effective engagement in scientific learning, both in terms of intelligibility and persistence of scientific contents and of a more equal access to scientific culture.

show abstract

Multimodal Interfaces for Representing and Accessing Geospatial Information

Golledge

Rice

Jacobson

Frontiers of Geographic Information Technology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Multimodal interfaces have a great potential impact in our daily lives and in the education of students in all grades. In particular, they offer significant benefits for people who are disabled. The use of tactile, haptic, and auditory interfaces has a potential to make technology more universally accessible. To this extent it will mitigate the rapidly expanding digital divide between those who are able to use computers to access the Internet and web page information (i.e., those who are computer literate) and those who are not.Information technology transformations are affecting how we communicate, how we store and access information, how we become healthier and receive more medical care, how we learn at different stages of our development, how business is conducted, how work is undertaken in order to produce income, how things are built or designed, how data is stored and managed, and how research is conducted. With the increasing emphasis on visualization as the main interface medium for computer based services, an ethical problem emerges regarding whether or not people who are visually impaired or who have other tactile, haptic, or auditory impairments that limit keyboard or mouse use should be increasingly disabled by the trend towards vision-based digital communication and information processing.We believe that such groups should not be shut out from the advantages offered by the use of this technology, just as we believe that multimodal interfaces will enrich the understanding of the computer-based input and output of information that is becoming a part of our everyday lives.This emerging digital divide has been recognized by former President Clinton's Information Technology Advisory Committee 103 . Their slogan incorporates a theme of universal accessibility. More recently, President Bush's directive that "no child shall be left behind" provides the incentive for more search and exploration in the area of non-visual and multimodal interfaces. Progress towards either of these goals would be designed to remove age-related barriers to participation in society, would reduce language and literacy related barriers among different groups in society, would enhance global understanding, and would engage more people in the process of information exchanges. But, the transformation of the

show abstract

Tactile Maps: New Materials and Improved Designs

Cited by 10 publications

References 5 publications

An Evaluation of Substrates for Tactile Maps and Diagrams: Scanning Speed and Users’ Preferences

An Evaluation of Substrates for Tactile Maps and Diagrams: Scanning Speed and Users’ Preferences

Design and evaluation of a multi-sensory representation of scientific data

Multimodal Interfaces for Representing and Accessing Geospatial Information

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About