Co-designing a 3D-Printed Tactile Campus Map With Blind and Low-Vision University Students
Authors: 
Kirk Andrew Crawford, 
Jennifer Posada, Yetunde Esther Okueso, Erin Higgins, Laura Lachin, 
Foad HamidiAuthors Info & Claims
Kirk Andrew Crawford, Jennifer Posada, Yetunde Esther Okueso, Erin Higgins, Laura Lachin, Foad HamidiAuthors Info & ClaimsArticle No.: 77, Pages 1 - 6
Abstract
Blind and low-vision (BLV) university students often encounter campus accessibility challenges that impede their ability to navigate campus environments effectively. The lack of customization offered by some navigational-focused assistive technologies (ATs) often falls short in addressing their diverse and specific navigational needs. 3D printing, a promising tool for creating affordable and personalized aids, has been explored as a method to create customized tactile maps to aid BLV individuals with general navigation. However, the use of 3D-printed tactile maps by BLV university students and the impact of their direct involvement in the design process remain largely unexplored. We employed a participatory design (PD) approach to engage BLV students from a university in the United States (U.S.) through semi-structured interviews and a co-design session to create a prototype 3D-printed tactile map. Additionally, we consulted with a blind rehabilitation and independence expert for insight into their perspective on AT and, more specifically, tactile maps and showed the prototype to a group of visually impaired youth and instructors visiting our university for feedback. We present and discuss our findings, provide an overview of the prototype design process, and outline future work.
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Index Terms
- Co-designing a 3D-Printed Tactile Campus Map With Blind and Low-Vision University Students
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October 2024
1475 pages
ISBN:9798400706776
DOI:10.1145/3663548
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