tactile graphic
if the object is too small to examine by touch and recognize details, consider a tactile graphic .
steve landau discusses tactile maps, talking kiosks, the talking tactile tablet and the tactile graphical user interface .
a combination of tooling and collage provides a graphic that is tactually different and easy to read .
all aph tractile graphics information: aluminum diagramming foil, tactile graphics guidelines, diagram kits, swail dot inverter, the good tactile graphic (video), quickdraw paper, etc .
aph’s tactile graphic image library (tgil) contains a pool of well - designed templates to aid with the creation of tactile graphics. tgil 2. 0 features improvements that make the website more accessible and more intuitive. also, we have added a forum for tactile graphic discussions to aid in your design and production needs. all you need to do is register to begin using the free image library to find tactile graphic templates that can be enhanced for your needs .
construction of two types of graphic organizers will be described, the star diagram and the column chart .
this flowchart is designed to help determine the purpose of the image, and whether it can be omitted, described, or a tactile graphic should be created .
when the student needs information from a map / figure / graph to participate in classroom discussions, answer questions, etc. , a tactile graphic should be done .
, ms. hasty discusses special relationship and graphic literacy, moving from models to graphics, and strategies for teaching students to read tactile graphics. ch. 1: introduction, ch. 2: spatial relationship and graphic literacy, ch. 3: moving from models to graphics, and ch. 4: strategies for reading tactile graphics .
graphiti’s breakthrough technology allows graphics to be depicted by means of an array of variable - height pins. to change to the next graphic, the pins on the refreshable display move up and down to create a tactile representation of the graphic. graphiti can display topographical maps and other features such as grey levels and colors .
remember to keep it simple; unnecessary information, clutter, may prohibit the student from gaining relevant information therefore making the graphic useless .
the drawn graphics are then examined for clarity, readability, and braille accuracy by a certified braille transcriber. once the design is approved, the graphic is released for tactile production. the graphic goes through a thermography process and is eventually bound into a braille book or bound separately, as in the case of a map .
the present application relates generally to devices for communicating information to a person with sight impairment, and more specifically, to a tactile sensing device connected to a host computer which allows a visually impaired user to interact with tactile graphic - based interactive multimedia applications .
the following simple, tactile graphic organizers were designed by renee toy, librarian at tsbvi, several years ago while she was teaching elementary school. the basic frame for the graphic organizers allows for easily exchanging cards to teach new concepts. (see pictures) students enjoy the hands - on activity and gain a better knowledge of content .
edit / proofread the graphic with your fingers, not your eyes, before showing it to a student. beware, if someone says your graphic is
pretty
or
beautiful
, take a second look, your student may not be able to understand it at all .
12. the system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of tactile control members further includes a tactile alpha - numeric keypad divided into a plurality of boxes being defined by tactile boundaries .
before creating a tactile graphic, one must first decide whether to make it at all. some information can be conveyed through a description and other images may be omitted if they do not communicate additional information .
shimojima, a. : the graphic - linguistic distinction: exploring alternatives. artif. intell. rev. 13 (4), 313–335 (1999 )
make the tactile graphic as clear as possible. always keep in mind the point of view of the braille reader. it is up to the producer to present the information in a clear, concise manner for the student .
tactile graphics designer (tgd) develops software to enable design and use of tactile graphics and tactile audio graphics, especially for blind and low vision users. tactile graphic + sound = tagraphic. design tools are tgd qiktac, tgd pro and - tgd workshop with integrated braille and tactile graphics in a multimedia setting of touch and sound. audiobraille in workshop leads to braille learning including graphics on the same page. audiopix, in workshop leads to speech and sound enhanced tactile images - physics, math, geography; any subject and also for just plain' fun' .
steven landau and karen gourgey describe their research on audio - tactile computing, and discuss development of the talking tactile atlas of the world .
who among tvis either at a school for the blind or in the field has not come upon a graphic organizer that would be particularly beneficial to teach students a concept. graphic organizers present information in a manner that is easy for sighted students to understand. how can these simple tools be adapted for students with visual impairment ?
any number of types of software applications may be run on the system as the system is designed to operate with the standard operating systems of today' s personal computers. the standardization of the overlays permits the user to be comfortable with any number of graphic - based interactive multimedia applications which are based on the present system. some exemplary tactile graphic - based interactive software applications include but are not limited to an audio / tactile atlas of world maps; educational curriculum applications; and instructional / entertainment game applications .
a collage tactile graphic can be created using a variety of craft materials that can be found in craft stores or recyclables. possible materials for creating the area include braille paper, cardboard, handi wipes, textured paper, fine sandpaper, needlepoint backing or fabric .
software that contain these components are the best tools to use when producing computer generated tactile graphics. third - party software containing mainly svg tools are: corel draw, adobe illustrator, and microsoft office (word and powerpoint). these applications can be used to produce tactile graphic illustrations for science, math, geography, and business classes .
when it is necessary to show size relationship between objects, consider tactile graphics .
to learn more, read teaching tactile graphics adapted from materials by lucia hasty .
figure 1. tactile 3d model of a leaf, its structure and tissues .
this is a list of tactile maps and atlases available through the princeton braillists .
konstantinos s. papadopoulos describes the production and testing of some experimental tactile maps .
the authors discuss the possibilities of electronic haptic maps, using
new and off - the - shelf hardware—force feedback and vibrotactile mice
to
enable nonvisual access to onscreen map or graphic material .
11. the system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of tactile control members includes a set for tactile directional arrow members permitting movement through a menu of the software application and a tactile enter member permitting the user to convey an affirmative command to the host computer .
tactileview creates pictures for people who cannot see. these pictures are transformed for them into tactile graphics. blind people can read them by touch and interpret the tactile material. easy to use tools are available for the design and production of tactile pictures, diagrams and maps .
3. the system of claim 2, wherein the identification region occupies a top portion of the overlay and the one or more tactile identification members comprises a plurality of tactile identification bars .
advantageously, the system 10 of fig. 1 provides a standardized system for tactile graphic - based interactive multimedia applications. because system 10 uses hardware that is commercially available, it is relatively easy to assembly and use and is also of relatively low cost. the range of professionally - produced software titles that are available or will be available and the high quality of these multimedia applications are additional advantages of the present system 10. by developing a uniform, standardized approach for tactile graphic - based interactive multimedia applications, users have instant familiarity with the operation of the application and only have to learn the specifics of the new application .
tactile greeting cards, flashcards, shapes and rhymes books, raised shapes counting cards, etc .
a microscopic world at the touch: learning biology with novel 2. 5d and 3d tactile models
joint braille authority of north america / canadian braille authority tactile graphics committee. (2011). guidelines and standards for tactile graphics, 2010, web version - february 2012. retrieved from urltoken
figure 5. tactile 3d model showing the formation of a fungal colony and hyphal cell growth .
products included on this site include tactile maps, map skills training, and voice output globe .
this site has links to research on tactile mapping and visual variables in spatial and map cognition .
urltoken demo of talking tactile tablet, a new computer peripheral device, along with an authoring tool that allows teachers of blind and visually impaired students to create talking tactile pictures for the ttt .
berlá, e. p. (1982). haptic perception of tangible graphic displays. in schiff, w. & foulke, e. (ed) tactual perception: a sourcebook. cambridge: cambridge university press .
this calibration step is important due to the use of high resolution equipment, e. g. , the touch workpad 20. precise superimposition of the tactile shapes of the overlay 50 over the pressure sensitized regions of the touch screen (touch pad 40) must be achieved to guarantee correspondence of tactile objects formed on the overlay 50 to appropriate audio responses. this is especially true for applications which have complex graphic images .
teaching or communicating with blind persons using tactile presentation of the information, e. g. braille displays
drawings produced by computers can turn into raised lined (embossed) graphics for the visually impaired. the most effective software applications for computer generated tactile graphics are those that contain scalable vector graphic (svg) components, such as: lines, shapes, freeform drawing tools, beizer drawing tools, arrows, patterns, shapes fill, and line weight .
static and interactive tactile maps are discussed in the context of providing survey and mobility information to people who are visually impaired or blind. the heterogeneous nature of visual impairment is examined, as is the nature of tactile perception. technologies associated with tactile maps are reviewed and the application of interactive tactile maps for populations, in addition to those who are visually impaired, is also considered. cybercartography has considerable potential in this respect .
eriksson, y. : tactile pictures: pictorial representations for the blind, pp. 1784–1940 (1998 )
the interactive tactile tools include raised tactile directional control buttons permitting the user to scroll through menus or the like which are announced by the human voice narrator. other tactile tools include a back button / escape button, an enter button, and a fully operational tactile numerical keypad having standard numerical keypad boxes. each overlay preferably includes other features in uniform locations which permit the user to easily and quickly identify one overlay from another overlay .
a sheet for placement over the upper surface of the work pad, the overlay having a work space which bears tactile indicia which corresponds to a selected software application, the overlay including a tactile graphical user interface (tgui) formed thereon, the tgui having a plurality of tactile control buttons, each tactile control button causing an input signal to be generated when the respective tactile control button is pressed and contacts the upper surface of the work pad, the control signal being communicated to the computer which processes the input signal and performs an operation .
text alternatives may help some people who have difficulty understanding the meaning of photographs, drawings, and other images (e. g. , line drawings, graphic designs, paintings, three - dimensional representations), graphs, charts, animations, etc .
we have also included a pdf download of marco schuffelen’s manual on producing tactile graphics. marco has distilled the experience of 20 years’ work at the netherlands library for the blind into an exceptional resource for people making tactile graphics .
the blind audio tactile mapping system (bats) project focuses on making spatial information accessible to people without vision .
new types of ink (these allowed production of high quality tactile maps with long durability on ordinary paper. )
the problem with bitmap drawing applications is line weight. tiger embossers can only determine bitmap line weight at 1 point even if the line on the drawing appears to be thicker. scalable vector drawings lines can be determined as either being 1, 3 or 6 points by a tiger embosser. having these line thickness options can provide more opportunity to draw detailed tactile graphic illustrations .
conference programme, proceedings, and abstracts for the 1st and 2nd conference on tactile diagrams, maps and pictures. best practice guidelines for the design, production and presentation of vacuum formed tactile maps – ann gardiner and chris perkins .
conference programme, proceedings, and abstracts for the 1st and 2nd conference on tactile diagrams, maps and pictures. best practice guidelines for the design, production and presentation of vacuum formed tactile maps  ann gardiner and chris perkins .
nomad is a touch sensitive pad that can be connected to a pc running mentor software. draw shapes on a piece of paper lying on the pad to be reproduced by the software on the computer screen. the paper can then be put in an embosser and the screen image embossed over it. the resulting tactile graphic can then be positioned back on the nomad pad for further work .
tactile atlases and anatomical graphics. 76 leabrook lane princeton, new jersey 08540 phone: (609) 924 - 5207
robert jaquiss, jr. , recounts the role his parents played
in providing him with a foundation of experiences and skills in using tactile materials throughout his schooling .
he describes the process his father invented for making tactile maps .
tmap allows visitors to this site to download and emboss customized tactile street maps of any location in the united states .
[ 0025 ] fig. 6 is a perspective view of an interactive audio - tactile system according to another embodiment .
building a template document for tactile graphics using tiger software 3 and 4 with microsoft word (1. 1 mb )
2. the system of claim 1, wherein the overlay has a tactile identification region formed thereon and defined by an identification boundary and one or more tactile identification members formed within the identification boundary at select x and y coordinates, the arrangement of the one or more tactile identification members within the identification boundary providing an identification pattern which uniquely identifies the overlay .
the ability to read tactual graphics and charts is essential as part of a braille student’s literacy program. explicit instruction in the reading and interpretation of tactile graphics is critical for students who are tactile learners. the student cannot fully participate in the core curriculum when presented with lessons or assessments involving charts and tables if the student is not able to read and interpret tactile graphics .
tactile graphics by polly k. edman 544 - page paperback book, isbn 0—89128 - 194 - 0, $ 59. 95
this paper presents the use of scalable vector graphics (svg) to help people with visual impairment read audio - tactile maps .
tactile graphics by polly k. edman 544 - page paperback book, isbn 089128 - 194 - 0, $ 59. 95
13. the system of claim 1, wherein the overlay includes a tactile plate number which provides unique identification indicia for each overlay .
the design of each laserline™ graphic is based upon more than a decade of field research including all aspects of pattern fill types, placement of braille labels, and techniques for illustrating depth. engineered designs and high - resolution pattern fills, line styles, and directional indicators yield successful access and comprehension to complex visual information .
3 townline circle, rochester, ny 14623 - 2513 (585) 427 - 8260; fax: (585) 427 - 0263 a membership organization for braille transcribers. nba membership includes quarterly newsletters that contain articles on improving tactile graphics, workshops and handouts regarding tactile graphics .
new types of papers (swell paper permitted the user to download, print, and produce tactile maps using a thermal image enhancer. )
at appropriate moments during a session, the user may be asked to place a new tactile overlay 50 on the touch pad 40. after placing the new tactile overlay 50 on the touch pad 40, the calibration and identification routines, described above, are repeated. this process continues until the user decides to end a particular section by pressing the first tactile button 150 in the upper - right corner of the overlay 50. in one embodiment, the first tactile button 150 performs both a back stepping operation and an escape or quit operation. in this embodiment, pressing the first tactile button 150 once causes the application to return to a previous menu or the like, if applicable. pressing the first tactile button 150 twice causes the application to terminate (quit function) and the system 10 shuts down until the user begins a new session .
an overlay comprising a sheet for placement over an upper surface of the work pad, the overlay having a work space which bears tactile indicia which corresponds to a selected one of the interactive software applications, the overlay including a tactile graphical user interface (tgui) formed thereon, the tgui having a plurality of tactile control members, each tactile control member having associated x and y coordinates on the grid array, the application of force to the respective tactile control member causing a corresponding location output signal to be generated and communicated to the host computer which processes the corresponding location output signal as a control signal which directs the performance of an operation, wherein the work space and tgui occupy different regions of the overlay .
ann gardiner and chris perkins explain each step in designing and creating vacuum formed tactile maps. their approach enables anyone to prepare useful raised graphics .
find out how you can create a free tactile map with a 3d printer, embosser, or on swell paper, or order one online .
based in the uk, providing tactile diagrams, maps and pictures for blind and partially sighted people of all ages and all walks of life .
thermal enhancer: the thermal enhancer takes a map printed on swell paper and by applying heat, raises the ink to make a tactile map .
the touch pad receives a tactile graphic overlay and has a frame with a fastening mechanism or the like to hold the frame in a closed position so that the overlay lays motionless on the touch pad during use of the system. different overlays are used for different interactive software applications which are run by the host computer. according to one aspect of the system, all of the overlays have common layout elements which permit the system to have standardized features regardless of which application is running .
‘signs’ – it’s a simple word, but it understates the range of what we do, as anyone who has visited our factory knows. yes, we can do you a simple sign, but the heart of our business is beautiful, high quality digital printing, and an extensive range of robust finishing options – right up to our robust grp encapsulation. not to mention our wider experience in: graphic design, framing, tactile routed or sandblasted timber signs, and sign installation .
online resource listing, including sources of materials, directions on creating object books, a listing of books, videos, journal articles, web sites, documents and human resources for preparing and teaching the use of quality tactile graphics. lots of information about tactile graphics all over the tsbvi site !
the exemplary tgui 130 includes a first tactile button 150 which performs one or more operations. the first tactile button 150 is located in an upper - right corner of the overlay 50 and in the exemplary embodiment, is in the shape of a “ + ” sign. as with the other tactile members of the overlay 50, the first tactile button 150 extends outwardly from the overlay 50 toward the user so that the user can easily locate the member 150 by running his or her finger over the overlay 50. in each application, pressing the first tactile button 150 performs an operation and because the system 10 is advantageously standardized, pressing the first tactile button 150 performs the same or similar operations regardless of which application is currently running. for example and according to one exemplary embodiment, the first tactile button 150 operates as a back button if it is pressed once and operates as an escape button if the member 150 is pressed twice. these features will be further elaborated on in detail when figs. 3 - 5 are described .
8. the system of claim 7, wherein the data processor which receives location output signals generated when the plurality of tactile calibration members are pressed causing the work pad to generate corresponding calibration output signals, the calibration output signals indicating the present x and y coordinates of each of the tactile calibration members .
a new computer peripheral device, along with an authoring tool that allows teachers of blind and visually impaired students to create talking tactile pictures for the ttt .
raised printing for tactile graphics and braille, produced from hard copy originals or electronic files supplied by the customer, from materials available in tactile vision files or from designs commissioned by organizations or individuals. applications include maps, calendars, books, business and greeting cards, labels and a wide range of teaching materials .
furthermore, these devices do not provide high quality interactive programming and tactile media that supports interactive learning and entertainment. what is needed in the art and has heretofore not been available is a audio - tactile device which overcomes the above - noted deficiencies and provides a high quality interactive experience for a visually impaired user .
millar, s. (1974). tactile short - term memory by blind and sighted children. british journal of psychology, 65, 253 - 263 .
landau, s. , gourgey, k. : development of a talking tactile tablet. information technology and disabilities 7 (2), 4 (2001 )
a computer - based system permitting a visually impaired user to interact with tactile graphic - based interactive software applications is provided. the system includes a host computer having a data processor and a drive for running the interactive software applications and a pressure sensitive work pad. the work pad has x and y pressure sensitive members disposed in a grid array for providing unique location output signals corresponding to each different location on the grid array. the work pad is operatively connected to the host computer and an overlay comprising a sheet is placed over an upper surface of the work pad. the overlay having a work space which bears tactile indicia which corresponds to a selected one of the interactive software applications and also includes a tactile graphical user interface (tgui) formed thereon. the tgui has a plurality of tactile control members which generate location output signals when pressed. these output signals are communicated to the computer which processes the signals as control signals directing the computer to perform an operation. methods of calibrating the overlays and identifying the overlays are also provided .
jerry clark and deanna durr clark describe the use of a gis (geographic information system) and coordinate digitizer to create customized tactile maps on micro - encapsulated paper .
sheppard, l. , aldrich, f. : tactile graphics: a beginner’s guide to graphics for visually impaired children. primary science review, 29–30 (2000 )
7. the system of claim 6, wherein the calibration system includes a plurality of tactile calibration members formed on the overlay and arranged according to a predetermined pattern .
this embodiment is more compact and permits easy transportation of the device 300 while not jeopardizing any of its capabilities. in both embodiments, the computer (either host computer 100 or computer device 310) interprets the user' s presses on the tactile graphic overlay 50 in exactly the same way that it does when a mouse (not shown) is clicked while the cursor is over a particular region, icon or other object of a video screen associated with the computer. the present systems thus opens the world of “point and click” computing to visually impaired users .
embossers: romeo, thomas, marathon, juliet, bookmaker, braille express, brailleplace, ped - 30; signmakers: prestobraille and kgs braille labeler; print / braille devices: transend and gemini print and braille embosser; braille translation software from duxbury systems; tactile graphics hardware & software: et - graphix, tactile image enhancer (tie) and tie jr. ; thermo - pen, flexi - paper™; tactile graphics designer (tgd) pro software, tagpad from repro - tronics; braille paper
this podcast describes the tactile maps designed by josh miele of smith - kettlewell eye research institute. (they can be downloaded at urltoken and embossed by the user. )
brenda madrazo and juan gabriel solorzano describe the challenges of tactile map design, share design guidelines, discuss the braille system, and offer a literature review on the field .
tactile diagrams, maps and pictures allow access to visual graphical information for blind and partially sighted people, and can greatly enhance their independence in education, work and leisure .
embossers: romeo, thomas, marathon, juliet, bookmaker, braille express, brailleplace, ped - 30; signmakers: prestobraille and kgs braille labeler; print / braille devices: transend and gemini print and braille embosser; braille translation software from duxbury systems; tactile graphics hardware & software: et - graphix, tactile image enhancer (tie) and tie jr. ; thermo - pen, flexi - paper
; tactile graphics designer (tgd) pro software, tagpad from repro - tronics; braille paper
we have a small collection of images on this site, similar to the table mountain diagram alongside, for you to use as resources for making tactile graphics using the piaf .
quick tac 4 is a free program that can be used to create tactile graphics with any braille embosser and even embedded into dbt (duxbury braille translator) and megadots documents .
drawing that look like a picture are called bitmaps. these drawing applications may not have svg drawing components, however, they can be used to produce tactile graphics if a swell (encapsulated) paper device is doing the embossing. swell paper devices are: tactile image enhancer (tie) or picture - in - a - flash (piaf) .
berlá, e. p. (1981). tactile scanning and memory for a spatial display by blind students. journal of special education, 15, 341 - 350 .
[ 0036 ] fig. 2 illustrates a basic touch overlay 50 prior to being decorated with specific tactile details that are associated with one or more interactive software programs. all of the touch overlays 50 have the following similar components. first, the touch overlay 50 has one or more calibration tactile members. the exemplary overlay 50 in fig. 2 has three tactile members, namely first, second and third calibration tactile members 52, 54, and 56. the calibration tactile members 52, 54, 56 are in the form of defined projections which extend outwardly from a first surface 51 of the overlay 50. the first surface 51 is the surface which faces the user when the overlay 50 is placed and secured within the touch workpad 20. an opposing second surface 53 is the surface of the overlay 50 which contacts the touch pad 40 during use of the system 10 .
feedback was also solicited from cartographic professionals working in the field of tactile maps and graphics. the maps for the thematic tactile atlas of canada were also tested at w. ross macdonald, the largest residential school for blind and visually impaired students in canada. this user centric approach resulted in development of high quality maps, which will serve blind and visually impaired users well. the tactile atlas of canada received high praise from users and the professional cartographic community and was selected for national and international exhibitions by the canadian national cartographic committee .
gh provides the service of converting complex information contained in documents into laserline™ graphics. gh accepts a variety of media formats, including pdf, html, word, and jpeg, as well as the print document (s) to begin the conversion process. it begins with our dedicated computer graphics team designing the graphic and addressing issues such as proper pattern fill selection, placement of braille labels, and spacing between lines .
louis brunet has over 25 years experience in multimedia, graphic design, and project management. while at nortel networks he introduced the use of video streaming as a cost effective way to provide employee training. during the nineties, at nortel, he founded and led a multimedia team capable of producing product marketing multimedia collateral integrating web, flash, 3d animation and video. more recently his focus has been web related projects and accessibility .
thompson, l. , chronicle, e. : beyond visual conventions: rethinking the design of tactile diagrams. british journal of visual impairment 24 (2), 76 (2006 )
16. the system of claim 13, wherein the overlay further includes a braille plate number uniquely identifying the overlay in braille, the braille plate number corresponding to the tactile plate number .
ifeelpixel™is a software application designed to create audio - tactile sensations based on image. any pictures generated by your computer and being under your cursor position on screen are represented with a subjective audio - tactile sensation on an immersion touchsense device and a sound card. it' s the first software that allows a user to feel the pixels on the screen with both haptic and auditory feedback .
imagine replacing text descriptions of pictures, charts, and graphs with something more powerful. it' s a high - resolution tactile image and it' s just one way everyone has access .
tactile graphics are a means of conveying non - textual information to people who are blind or visually impaired, and may include tactile representations of pictures, maps, graphs, diagrams, and other images. a person with a visual impairment can feel these raised lines and surfaces in order to obtain the same information that people who are sighted get through looking at pictures or other visual images .
the publication of and access to tactile maps on the internet was a very recent development. the first version of the mvi web site was officially launched in october 2002. for the hardcopy production of the tactile atlas of canada, which is available in a downloadable format on the web site, extensive user testing was conducted. students, teachers and mobility training instructors tested both the raised ink maps and capsule paper tactile maps. the maps published on the mvi web site follow the international guidelines recommended by the international cartographic association commission on maps and graphics for blind and visually impaired people .
ifeelpixel
is a software application designed to create audio - tactile sensations based on image. any pictures generated by your computer and being under your cursor position on screen are represented with a subjective audio - tactile sensation on an immersion touchsense device and a sound card. it' s the first software that allows a user to feel the pixels on the screen with both haptic and auditory feedback .
this pin - matrix display drastically increases the amount of information perceivable to blind computer users through both hands, and enables them to experience spatial structures and graphic symbols as additional information. ideally, objects such as text blocks, tables, menus and other elements of the windows user interface can be fully mapped to the pin - matrix display. moreover, geometric drawings, floor plans, diagrams and other information can be made accessible to visually impaired students in teaching .
this page is the gateway to our collection of manuals, guides and resources for the producer of tactile graphics. click on the link in each paragraph to go to the resource mentioned in that paragraph .
polish teacher boguslaw marek discusses how tactile graphics help develop understanding of spatial relations and the correspondence between three - dimensional objects and their two - dimensional representations. ideas for materials and teaching strategies are included .
dr. eva siekierska works as research project manager - mapping for visually impaired, at mapping services branch of earth sciences sector, natural resources canada. she also holds an adjunct research professor position at carleton university. her main research interests are: tactile and audio - tactile mapping, web accessibility and usability, multi - modal user interfaces and web - based visualization in application to sustainable development decision making .
the use of maps is an important skill for all children to learn. for students who have visual impairments, learning to read a map is an important step towards independence, as well as a way to participate more fully in the regular geography and social studies curriculum. this section offers suggestions on how to teach students to use tactile maps, from the most basic object books to more complex tactile graphics .
teachers of the visually impaired often produce tactile graphics to accompany classroom materials and activities. it must be remembered that tactile graphics are not automatically meaningful to students who are blind or visually impaired. students must first have an understanding of that which is being represented. for example, a raised map of africa will have little meaning for a child who has never heard of africa and who does not grasp the fact that the world is made up of different continents. in order for tactile graphics to have meaning, a student must have a good understanding of symbolic representation, spatial orientation, and basic tactual perceptual skills .
accordingly, each overlay includes tactile elements which facilitate both the calibration and identification processes. these tactile elements are generally located in the same regions of each overlay so as to promote standardization of the layout of the overlays. in another aspect, each overlay is standardized in that each overlay contains a group of interactive tools formed in the same region of each overlay. once again, this promotes familiarity of the system regardless of which application is being run by the user. these interactive tactile tools are adjacent to a workspace area which occupies the same space in each overlay so as to further promote standardization of the overlays .
with piaf, blind and vision impaired people can understand the information on a computer screen, grasp organizational structure of the business and access sales charts. one or two tactile diagrams can save thousands of words .
r. dan jacobson discusses the development of a personal guidance system which would
provide on - line interactions … in audio or tactile form, providing orientation, location and guidance information... .
1. introduction 2. background information 2. 1 mapping for visually impaired project 2. 2 svg mapping 3. interactive audio - tactile maps 3. 1 tactile maps 3. 2 audio - tactile maps 3. 2. 1 set up the map 3. 2. 2 read the map 3. 3 haptic effects 4. svg maps creation 4. 1 methodology 4. 2 system requirements 4. 3 coding the interactive features 4. 3. 1 voice annotation 4. 3. 2 haptic effects 4. 3. 3 sound effects 5. user' s feedback 6. conclusions and future directions footnotes acknowledgements bibliography
the tactileview concept consists of design software for the creation of tactile graphics and an international web catalog. the design software allows production (printing) on a braille embosser or on swell paper (microcapsule paper) .
the purpose of interactive audio - tactile maps was to provide a multi - modal environment thereby making all the rich geospatial information available and accessible to people with visual impairment. placement of a tactile map on a touch tablet [ 2 ] allowed the user to interact with the svg map. sound effects were added using pre - recorded sounds. voice annotation was implemented using text - to - speech software or screen reader software .
produces illustrations, graphics and spatial representations adapted to touch recognition for people who are blind using a “graphtact” prototype printer designed to produce standardized tactile designs. braille jymico also produces a computerized aluminum master to create thermoform copies .
tactile map automated production (tmap): using gis data to generate braille maps presenters joshua a. miele, ph. d. the smith kettlewell eye research institute 2318 fillmore st. san francisco, ca 94115 urltoken
jim durkel shares ideas for helping children with visual impairments collect souvenirs and explore maps during family vacations. creating remnant books and tactile graphics enhances the child' s participation in family trips; available in english and spanish .
aph and orbit will evaluate the graphiti with a wide range of consumers, including but not limited to, experts in the field of tactile graphics and assistive technology as well as teachers with students who are visually impaired .
produces illustrations, graphics and spatial representations adapted to touch recognition for people who are blind using a graphtact prototype printer designed to produce standardized tactile designs. braille jymico also produces a computerized aluminum master to create thermoform copies .
a variety of hardware and software (refreshable braille products, braille embossers, braille translation software, tactile imaging products, accessories, etc .) from various manufacturers, as used (demo / loan) products at a discount
sheppard, l & aldrich f. k .
tactile graphics in school education: perspectives from teachers ,
british journal of visual impairment, vol. 19, no. 3, pp93 - 97, sept 2001 .
on another side, commercial three - dimensional representations are available from different sources. but most of them are not specially designed for the blind such as in the case of anatomic models of the human body, earth globes, models of dna structure, ordinary animals, and others. in those cases, tactile characteristics such as texture and materials used for manufacture are frequently not optimal for easy tactile resolution, even for those available at specialized suppliers .
we used several features of svg to create interactive tactile maps. the open source nature of svg will allow people to use this technology. the svg documents can be adapted to other devices used by the visually impaired community .
sheppard, l & aldrich f. k .
tactile graphics: a beginner' s guide to graphics for visually impaired children ,
primary science review, vol. 65, pp29 - 30, nov - dec 2000 .
the adapted graphics list' s purpose is to discuss graphics designed for people who are blind or visually impaired. this includes the development of tactile graphics, and other types of information design for folks who are blind or visually impaired .
aldrich, f. k. & sheppard, l .
tactile graphics in school education: perspectives from pupils ,
british journal of visual impairment, vol. 19, no. 2, pp69 - 73, may 2001 .
tiger printers and embossers that print braille and tactile graphics (including 3 - d) direct from mainstream windows software, dotsplus® braille font for braille math, the accessible graphing calculator (agc) that facilitates mathematics accessibility through audio or braille .
aph is grateful to the william m. wood foundation, bank of america, n. a. , co - trustee. they awarded a generous $ 200, 000 for the development of the revolutionary graphiti dynamic multilevel tactile touch display .
while the workspace area has a common boundary whose location does not change from one overlay to another overlay, the precise tactile subject matter which is presented within the workspace boundary does vary from overlay to overlay and therefore from application to application. much of the tactile shapes and objects presented in the workspace area are a large part of the interactive learning process experienced by the user as the user is often touching different regions within the workspace in response to commands or instruction given by the narrator .
ungar, s. , blades, m. , spencer, c. & morsley, k. (1994). can visually impaired children use tactile maps to estimate directions. journal of visual impairment & blindness, 88, 221 - 233 .
the properties that make diagrams more effective than text in certain circumstances have been investigated by researchers for over 20 years. however, this research has focused on visual diagrams. to the best of our knowledge, no research has yet investigated whether the same benefits and properties hold for tactile diagrams, which are blind people’s primary means of access to diagrams. we present a consideration of similarities and differences in the properties and potential benefits of visual and tactile diagrams; and suggest where experimental investigation would be useful .
aldrich, f. k. , sheppard, l. & hindle, y .
first steps towards a model of tactile graphicacy
, british journal of visual impairment, vol. 20, no. 2, pp62 - 67, may 2002 .
825 east johnson street madison, wi 53703 (608) 257 - 5917 / fax (608) 257 - 3480 website: urltoken private, nonprofit organization, providing tactile graphs and maps, and science and mathematics books in braille and e - text .
thus, this paper describes the creation of tactile three - dimensional models and the development of an inclusive, multisensory curriculum to effectively support teaching of biology topics, making microscopic subjects accessible for both visually impaired and sighted students at the elementary and middle school levels .
until recently, the use of tactile maps has been very limited, as most of the maps have been produced by hand, for example using string and glue, a very slow process. recent developments facilitated the production of cost effective maps. examples are :
the experiment reported below was designed as a test of the ability of visually impaired children to reproduce a tactile array under aligned and under rotated conditions, and as a basis for considering the relative effectiveness of the various tactile exploration strategies spontaneously used by the children. rather than restrict the children to specific exploratory movements (cf. millar 1981) we allowed the children to generate their own strategies for exploring the layout. we believed that the participants' strategies would be an important factor in the stability of their memory for the array under rotated conditions .
making science, math, and engineering information accessible to people with print disabilities. products developed in the science access project include the tiger tactile graphics and braille embosser, the accessible graphing calculator, and triangle, a fully accessible dos program for reading and doing math and science .
challis, b. , edwards, a. : design principles for tactile interaction. in: brewster, s. , murray - smith, r. (eds .) haptic hci 2000. lncs, vol. 2058, pp. 17–24. springer, heidelberg (2001 )
furthermore, the tactile control buttons 160 can be designed to permit the user to access additional advance functionality of the application. for example, the player can use the tactile control buttons 160 to scroll through menus, such as a scoring menu, which provide the player with useful information. a scoring menu would present each player with his or her current score and permit one player to keep tract of the scores of the other players. the player may also be instructed as to how many pairs have been matched and how many pairs are left to be matched .
taevis at purdue university utilizes a variety of alternative formats to provide academic accommodations for students who are blind, visually impaired, or have other print disabilities. innovative applications for tactile diagrams, technical braille, and electronic text are opening new opportunities in math, engineering, and science .
so you' re wondering how to make that picture accessible? worried about math and science? gh has developed a high technology process for clearly communicating complex visual information through the use of raised tactile images known as laserline™ graphics. by using a variety of customized pattern fills, line styles, and directional indicators, these tactile graphics are used by braille readers for accessing bar charts, subway routes, diagrams and even 3 - d geometric figures every day. these graphics are available in many sizes ranging from 8. 5
x 11
to wall - size foldouts .
the virtual touch system (vts) enables remote tactile and audio access for windows graphics and text through direct feedback from the computer screen. vts, with its virtouch player and mouse, also enables the drawing of graphics and displays text tactually in regular alphabets and braille as well as providing audio feedback .
theurel, a. , witt a. , claudet, p. , hatwell, y. , & gentaz, e. (2013). tactile picture recognition by early blind children: the effect of illustration technique. journal of experimental psychology: applied, 19 (3), 233 - 240 .
9. the system of claim 8, wherein the data processor has a memory for storing the x and y coordinates of the tactile calibration members, the host computer having stored therein a set of optimized x and y coordinates identifying an optimized location of the tactile calibration members relative to the work pad, the data processor serving to compare the present x and y coordinates of the calibration members with the set of optimized x and y coordinates and then determine a correction factor that compensates for any difference between the present x and y coordinates of the calibration members and the stored set of optimized x and y coordinates for the calibration members .
aldrich, f. : talk to the hand: an agenda for further research on tactile graphics. in: stapleton, g. , howse, j. , lee, j. (eds .) diagrams 2008. lncs (lnai), vol. 5223, pp. 344–346. springer, heidelberg (2008 )
the workspace section 120 is the section of the overlay 50 that is not standard from one overlay 50 to another overlay 50. depending upon the particular application, the tactile graphical environment of the workspace section 120 varies. figs. 3 - 5 illustrate exemplary overlays 50 that are used in three different types of exemplary applications .
source: american foundation for the blind braille literacy mentors in training: the next generation - teaching special codes: nemeth, cbc, and tactile graphics - workshop in fremont, california (august 7 - 9, 1997) and atlanta, georgia (september 11 - 13, 1997). diane spence and susan a. osterhaus
175 mason circle, concord, ca 94520 phone (800) 722 - 3393 / fax (925) 681 - 4630 braillenote notetaker; braille star braille displays; mountbatten pro braille writer; paragon, et, romeo and juliet braille embossers; duxbury braille translation software, pictures in a flash (piaf) tactile graphics maker.
tactile graphics , including tactile pictures , tactile diagrams , tactile maps , and tactile graphs , are images that use raised surfaces so that a visually impaired person can feel them . they are used to convey non-textual information such as maps , paintings , graphs and diagrams . tactile graphics can be seen as a subset of accessible images . images can be made accessible to the visually impaired in various ways , such as verbal description , sound , or haptic ( tactual ) feedback . one of the most common uses for tactile graphics is the production of tactile maps . 
tactile graphics, including tactile pictures, tactile diagrams, tactile maps, and tactile graphs, are images that use raised surfaces so that a visually impaired person can feel them. they are used to convey non-textual information such as maps, paintings, graphs and diagrams. tactile graphics can be seen as a subset of accessible images. images can be made accessible to the visually impaired in various ways, such as verbal description, sound, or haptic (tactual) feedback. one of the most common uses for tactile graphics is the production of tactile maps.
tactile graphics, including tactile pictures, tactile diagrams, tactile maps, and tactile graphs, are images that use raised surfaces so that a visually impaired person can feel them. they are used to convey non-textual information such as maps, paintings, graphs and diagrams. tactile graphics can be seen as a subset of accessible images. images can be made accessible to the visually impaired in various ways, such as verbal description, sound, or haptic (tactual) feedback. one of the most common uses for tactile graphics is the production of tactile maps.