Tactile Playgrounds

WEEK 3

FIGURING OUT THE NEW DIRECTION

Since VI individuals face a number of visual challenges, I examined these problems to gather information and explore widely without preconceived notions. The only criteria I gave myself was to keep the focus on my existing research on Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), accessibility and empathy in design.

I made an effort to explore beyond the visual impairments I focused on last semester, hoping to find new ideas.

LOSS OF INDEPENDENCE AND MOBILITY AS A CHALLENGE

Some of the challenges of having visual impairments are the result in a loss of independence, mobility or in a reduced ability to participate in everyday activities.

The use of web maps is as important for the visually impaired as it is for sighted people, and sometimes it is even more important. Having access to spatial information ICT (Information and Communication Technologies), including the internet, these applications can be seen as contributing towards e-inclusion, and strengthening the information society. A map that is as easy as possible to read increases success in communicating the content to the users. This is especially relevant for people with reduced vision or those affected by colour vision impairments.

Currently, user interfaces are usually implemented as GUIs (Graphical User Interface). The users interact with the system through menu bars, icons, and windows; these interactions are handled by input devices such as mice, keyboards, or touchscreens. Information is returned as a graphical display on the device’s screen. Since GUIs rely heavily on the visual sense, people who are severely visually impaired or blind are at a disadvantage. However, supporting keyboard accessibility, as well as using assistive technology, can be pivotal to a solution.

Assistive technology refers to any objects or system directed toward aiding people with disabilities in interacting with their environment, in communicating with others, and in accomplishing a variety of tasks.

BRAINSTORMING NEW IDEAS

With all this information, I have set the current goal of the project as: “Allowing users to explore and memorise a city area and/or a route before going there.”

The next question is how to execute this plan. Looking at my work from last semester, I can take elements from the experiments and prototype to modify them to align with this new idea. This is my proposed approach: “Create a map interface together with an assistive tool that helps the visually impaired to easily control a map, as well as easily find the information they are looking for.”

What information should be displayed on the map when using the tool? At this stage, i am not sure, but here are a few potential ideas that could be useful for VI individuals when navigating a map:

    1.

    Streets, buildings, lakes, paths, trails, etc.

    2.

    Size (zoom), contrast, hierarchy, etc.

    3.

    Specific infrastructure (guidance systems, accessible parking, toilets, public transportation, etc.)

  • Feedback

    During the feedback session, the guest lecturer, Kyu, mentioned the difficulty of creating a map due to many considerations that need to be taken into account, such as textual information, the size of the map and in general, defining the systems.

    Andreas meant that this could be an interesting direction to delve into. He mentioned that I should build a more specific concept and contextualisation—will it be a physical space or a virtual one? I should also be more selective with my target audience, ideally focusing on one specific group.

REFLECTION ON ICT, KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS AND ACCESSIBILITY

Delving deeper into these topics led me to discover a significant insight: access to spatial information through ICT can contribute towards e-inclusion and strengthen the information society. While sighted individuals commonly utilise maps as a primary tool to gather spatial information, the visual nature of maps makes them inherently inaccessible to visually impaired individuals—serving as the primary segue into the new direction.

Keyboard shortcuts are a big piece to the accessibility and usability puzzle. Having the ability to control and navigate the UI without the need for fine motor skills like operating a mouse, or the good vision to follow a mouse cursor on screen can help a wide range of users with disabilities and without.

    Implementing keyboard shortcuts into your application or map is a great way to allow users to have a different method of navigation. For instance, these shortcuts can be used to:

    1.

    Explain the goal of your map and what it’s showing.

    2.

    Provide data in an alternative and accessible format.

    3.

    Don’t rely solely on colour to convey meaning. Use textures, icons, labels, and shapes.

    4.

    Use colours that pass contrast minimum standards and are colourblind safe.

    5.

    Build keyboard shortcuts into your app → the tool.

    When you keep accessibility in mind, your users with accessibility needs will be much less frustrated.

WEEKLY ROUNDUP

I am genuinely excited about my new topic and having the opportunity to incorporate other themes beyond design. Given my already-existing interest in geography and spatial environments, blending these topics with accessibility and empathy in design is very intriguing to me as I will get the chance to challenge myself and explore ways to execute this. I usually stick to graphical two-dimensional design, so this venture will certainly be a departure from my usual practice.