Callie Neylan | University of Maryland Baltimore County (original) (raw)
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Although research has been conducted regarding the effective translation of visual maps into tact... more Although research has been conducted regarding the
effective translation of visual maps into tactile equivalents,
it is very difficult for blind and visually-impaired
students to find adequate mapping solutions. Most
often, tactile maps produced for the blind are simple
translations of visual navigation systems, designed
from a sighted person’s perspective and given a tactile
interface. But what if tactile maps were translated
from a blind user’s point-of-reference? How would
they be different? Exactly what design modifications
could be employed to improve existing ones?
According to the World Health Organization, there
exists worldwide almost 150 million people with a
significant visual disability and approximately 30
million people who are blind. In the United States
alone, there are roughly 10 million people who are
either legally blind or visually-impaired to the point
that they have trouble seeing even with corrective
lenses. With an increasing number of people falling
into these categories – think of all the aging baby
boomers – designers will be presented with a very
specific set of challenges to design for. Challenges
that are rarely considered when designing for sighted
people.(Evamy, 9)
How can designers prepare themselves for these
unique challenges? What tools can they add to their
repertoire to help them provide timely and innovative
solutions? Enter participatory and universal design.
Although research has been conducted regarding the effective translation of visual maps into tact... more Although research has been conducted regarding the
effective translation of visual maps into tactile equivalents,
it is very difficult for blind and visually-impaired
students to find adequate mapping solutions. Most
often, tactile maps produced for the blind are simple
translations of visual navigation systems, designed
from a sighted person’s perspective and given a tactile
interface. But what if tactile maps were translated
from a blind user’s point-of-reference? How would
they be different? Exactly what design modifications
could be employed to improve existing ones?
According to the World Health Organization, there
exists worldwide almost 150 million people with a
significant visual disability and approximately 30
million people who are blind. In the United States
alone, there are roughly 10 million people who are
either legally blind or visually-impaired to the point
that they have trouble seeing even with corrective
lenses. With an increasing number of people falling
into these categories – think of all the aging baby
boomers – designers will be presented with a very
specific set of challenges to design for. Challenges
that are rarely considered when designing for sighted
people.(Evamy, 9)
How can designers prepare themselves for these
unique challenges? What tools can they add to their
repertoire to help them provide timely and innovative
solutions? Enter participatory and universal design.