Designing interactive 3D printed models for blind students

Abstract

Recent advances in 3D printing technology have made tactile models for a variety of concepts more available. Researchers have explored methods to add interactivity to 3D printed models so that the model can speak a description of a model component when it is touched. Using these interactive 3D printed models (I3Ms), blind students can understand abstract concepts (e.g., the structure of molecules) better. However, the current model creation methods are too complicated for laypersons, and the researchers designed I3Ms without fully considering blind users' needs. As a result, I3MS are still limited in terms of their quantity, quality, and functionalities. I aim to make interactive 3D printed models (I3Ms) more available and useful to blind students. Specifically, I explored different methods to create I3Ms, conducted studies to understand blind users' needs and preferences, and developed tools that make I3Ms easy to create and easy to access.