Comparing interaction techniques to help blind people explore maps on small tactile devices
Open accessAbstract
Exploring geographic maps on touchscreens is a difficult task in the absence of vision as those devices miss tactile cues. Prior research has therefore introduced non-visual interaction techniques designed to allow visually impaired people to explore spatial configurations on tactile devices. In this paper, we present a study in which six blind and six blindfolded sighted participants evaluated three of those interaction techniques compared to a screen reader condition. We observed that techniques providing guidance result in a higher user satisfaction and more efficient exploration. Adding a grid-like structure improved the estimation of distances. None of the interaction techniques improved the reconstruction of the spatial configurations. The results of this study allow improving the design of non-visual interaction techniques that support a better exploration and memorization of maps in the absence of vision.
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Previous literature demonstrates that the use of clock face instructions [56] or external speakers [57] can effectively aid in localizing objects.
“Previous literature demonstrates that the use of clock face instructions [56] or external speakers [57] can effectively aid in localizing objects.”
From An investigation into the effectiveness of using acoustic touch to assist people who are blind (2023) · cites this paper as [56]
Multimodal (combined haptic and audio) touchscreen interfaces provide benefits over unimodal analogs for map learning.
“both empirical and user preference results from multiple touchscreen-based mapping studies support the benefit of multimodal vs. unimodal interfaces.”
From Cognitive Mapping Without Vision: Comparing Wayfinding Performance After Learning From Digital Touchscreen-Based Multimodal Maps vs. Embossed Tactile Overlays (2020) · cites this paper as Simonnet et al., 2019
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- Authors
- Simonnet, M., Brock, A. M., Serpa, A., Oriola, B., & Jouffrais, C.
- Affiliations
- Université de Bretagne Occidentale (FR)
- École Nationale de l’Aviation Civile (FR)
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Corresponding author
- Simonnet, Mathieu
- Venue
- Multimodal Technologies and Interaction
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Published
- 2019-04-20
- Volume
- 3
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 27
- ISSN
- 2414-4088 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2936075367
- Cited by
- 16
- References
- 27
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 1
- FWCI
- 0.87
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- dx.doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Multimodal Technologies and Interaction (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- HAL (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR-14-CE17-0018)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Tactile and Sensory Interactions
- Social Sciences › Human Factors and Ergonomics › Digital Accessibility for Disabilities
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Human-Computer Interaction › Interactive and Immersive Displays
- Keywords
- non-visual interaction, blind users, tactile maps, map exploration, touchscreen interaction, visually impaired people, screen readers, distance estimation, user satisfaction, accessibility
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