HAPTIC USER INTERFACES Final lecture

The R&D or application idea The implementation of multisensory environments on the field of map construction for individuals with visual impairments can be of great significance, particularly in the field of construction of Orientation and Mobility (O&M) aids. Information technology offers the possibility to convert the spatial information in audio, tactile or audio-tactile form. In the present article, the term audio-tactile map describes the tactile map that can be read with the use of an audio-touchpad device (e.g. IVEO or T3) exclusively. The research presented is part of a wider research conducted in the frames of the ATMAPS project. The ATMAPS project titled "Specification of symbols used on Audio-Tactile Maps for individuals with blindness" (Project No. 543316-LLP-1-2013-1-GR-KA3-KA3MP) is a project financed under the Lifelong Learning Programme (LLP). The aim of this project is the specification of symbols used in audio-tactile maps for individuals with blindness. The purpose of the research presented in this article is to investigate the user requirements of young adults with blindness regarding the information to be included/ mapped into two different types of audio-tactile maps: a) audio-tactile mobility maps of the indoors/inner space of buildings, and b) audio-tactile maps of campus (school, college or university campuses). The result of this research would be the definition of the most important information that should be included in each one of the two different types of audio-tactile maps. The state of the art Orientation and mobility in unfamiliar environment is a difficult task for individuals with visual impairments. Maps constitute an important orientation and mobility aid for individuals with visual impairments and contribute to the handling of their daily problems including autonomy, independence and quality of life (Espinosa, Ungar, Ochaita, Blades & Spencer, 1998; Jacobson, 1998). Conventional maps developed for sighted individuals are not accessible for individuals with visual impairments because they contain visual information only (Papadopoulos & Karanikolas, 2009). Therefore, individuals with visual impairments often use tactile maps to discover new environments in advance (Papadopoulos & Karanikolas, 2009) as they find it more helpful for cognitive mapping than direct experience (Caddeo, Fornara, Nenci & Piroddi, 2006). Espinosa & Ochaita (1998) showed that spatial knowledge was better when individuals with visual impairments learned specific routes with the use of tactile maps for cartographic representation than with direct experience or verbal description. The use of tactile maps provides the option to individuals with visual impairments to maintain a stable reference point (Thinus-Blanc & Gaunet, 1997) that enables allocentric coding which leads to better spatial performance and knowledge during spatial learning (Papadopoulos & Koustriava, 2011; Papadopoulos, Koustriava & Kartasidou, 2012). In case of audio-tactile maps, information can be represented by tactile graphics, audio symbols, tactile symbols, audio-tactile symbols (combined e.g. a tactile symbol that when a user touches it, he can hear additional information) and Braille labels. That allows a vast amount of information to be presented in auditory modality. Individuals with visual impairments use touch as the basic

2000

International Journal of Human-computer Studies / International Journal of Man-machine Studies, 2008

Proceedings of the conference on SIGGRAPH 2004 course notes - GRAPH '04, 2004

The R&D or application idea Teaching individuals with visual impairments (IVIs) utilizing touch and/or hearing aids, multisensory environments focused on tactile and acoustic cues, audio and tactile access to scientific content, are challenging areas for end users, teachers of individuals with blindness, psychologists, rehabilitation specialists, orientation and mobility trainers as well as designers of orientation and mobility aids. The development of Orientation and Mobility (O&M) aids and particularly the depiction of multisensory environments in the field of map construction for IVIs can be of great significance. Information technology offers the possibility to convert spatial information in audio, tactile or audio-tactile form. Therefore the benefits of tactile graphics can be combined with audio information with the use of special devices. Audio-touchpad devices are touch-sensitive pads that offer individuals with visual impairments access to the benefits of tactile maps and verbal aids simultaneously while they explore tactile graphics with their fingers. Audio-Tactile maps (AT-maps) can present a large amount of spatial information. Bibliographically, the definition of audio-tactile maps refers to a series of audio-tactile aids (for a review see Brock, 2013). In the present article, the term audio-tactile map describes the tactile map that can be read with the use of an audio-touchpad device (e.g. IVEO or T3) exclusively. Ιn the case of AT-maps, in addition to tactile symbols and braille labels, audio and audio-tactile symbols are used as well (e.g. a tactile symbol that when a user touches it, he/she can hear additional information like names and/or descriptions in audio format, etc). That means that a considerable piece of information is presented in auditory modality (e.g. street names, soundscape of locations, route descriptions, obstacles, building numbers etc.). Therefore, what needs to be carefully examined is the basic query of which information should be presented in haptic mode or with braille labels and which information should be delivered via an audio or audio-haptic mode. In practice this means that a reasoned process of defining the appropriate symbols for audio-tactile aids/ maps should be implemented. The fundamental aim of the project presented in this article is the specification of symbols to be used in AT-maps for IVIs. The ATMAPS project titled "Specification of symbols used on Audio-Tactile Maps for individuals with blindness" is a project financed under the Lifelong Learning Programme (LLP). The state of the art For individuals with visual impairments (IVIs), the sense of touch is considered as a basic modality for acquiring and selecting spatial information (Papadopoulos, 2005). The importance of the tactile aids as tools that provide spatial information is widely acknowledged (Espinosa & Ochaita, 1998; Papadopoulos & Karanikolas, 2009; Papadopoulos, Livieratos, & Boutoura, 2001). Tactile maps are often used by IVIs in order to discover to a certain degree new environments in advance (Papadopoulos & Karanikolas 2009). Tactile maps are very useful in education and training of IVIs since they can be used as tools for the identification of location, wayfinding, estimation of distance and formation of cognitive maps (Papadopoulos & Karanikolas, 2009). The contribution of tactile maps in formatting new cognitive maps or in reforming the existing ones is very important. Tactile maps can also be an extremely effective tool for representing spatial information for the orientation and mobility (O&M) of IVIs (Lawrence & Lobben, 2011).

resna.org

status: published, 2009

This research aims to create a deeper understanding of the haptic qualities in the built environment. As a vehicle for communication with the researcher, children who are congenitally blind engage in photo-ethnography by using a camera. Their experiences, behaviours, ...

2010

trefwoorden: Audio, video and haptic stimulation; Influence of temporal and spatial patterns of (haptic) stimuli,

Proceedings of the 2001 workshop on Percetive user interfaces - PUI '01, 2001