Abstract
In this paper, we present the results of an empirical study that aims to evaluate the performance of sighted and blind people to discriminate web page structures using vibrotactile feedback. The proposed visuo-tactile substitution system is based on a portable and economical solution that can be used in noisy and public environments. It converts the visual structures of web pages into tactile landscapes that can be explored on any mobile touchscreen device. The light contrasts overflown by the fingers are dynamically captured, sent to a micro-controller, translated into vibrating patterns that vary in intensity, frequency and temperature, and then reproduced by our actuators on the skin at the location defined by the user. The performance of the proposed system is measured in terms of perception of frequency and intensity thresholds and qualitative understanding of the shapes displayed.
Highlights
Voice synthesis and Braille devices are the main technologies used by screen readers to afford access to information for visually impaired people (VIP)
The purpose of our research is to provide access to the visual structure of a web page in a non-visual environment, so that the morpho-dispositional semantics can be accessed by VIP and enable the complete access to the informative message conveyed in a web page
To test the perceptual capacities of the TactiNET through its graphical language, we propose an exploratory experiment based on the semi-automatic conversion of the global visual structures of web pages into vibrotactile stimuli
Summary
Voice synthesis and Braille devices are the main technologies used by screen readers to afford access to information for visually impaired people (VIP). They remain ineffective under certain environmental conditions, in particular on mobile supports. A study by The American Printing House for the Blind (APH: https://www.aph.org/) showed that less than 10% of children between the ages of 4 and 21 are Braille readers. This statistic is even lower for elder populations. Improving access to the Web is a priority, to promote the autonomy of VIP, who do not practice Braille
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