Tactile Symbols Research Articles

Evaluation of Qualitative Colour Palettes for Tactile Maps

Much attention is currently being paid to developing universally designed solutions. Tactile maps, designed for people with visual impairments (PVI), require both graphic and tactile content. While many more- or less-official guidelines regarding tactile symbols exist, the subject literature lacks clear guidance on creating legible, highly contrasting graphic symbols for visual perception by those with residual vision. This study specifically addresses the application of colour, a key graphic variable that Is most often used to differentiate area symbols. We wanted to verify whether it is possible to choose a universal qualitative colour palette for tactile maps. We have proposed four different palettes, each with eight colours, that were later evaluated in a controlled study by 16 PVI with varying sociodemographic characteristics, using the VIEW model. The model is widely applied in the area of marketing research and considers the following aspects: Visibility, Informational, Emotional Appeal, and Workability. Our results indicate a lack of unanimity in choosing the best qualitative palette. The results of three palettes are comparable, with a subtle preference for the palette optimized for colour differences using the Python algorithm. Notably, the palette commonly used in official tactile maps in Poland received the lowest scores in every analysed dimension.

Haptic search asymmetry does not occur due to different-shaped tactile symbols on capsule paper.

Previous research on haptic search using sandpaper with different roughness levels as a target and distractors showed that rough sandpaper among fine "pops out" and can be searched for in a shorter time than when the roles of the target and distractors are reversed. However, it is not clear whether the same search asymmetry occurs with differences in the shapes of tactile symbols on capsule paper. To explore this possibility, we conducted a haptic search experiment using circles with or without a dot on capsule paper as a target and distractors, which are often used as point symbols in tactile maps for the blind. Contrary to our expectations, haptic search asymmetry did not occur between these two tactile symbols. Regardless of target type, the search times increased in proportion to the number of items (distractors plus target), as participants tended to adopt serial search strategy in which they placed their index or middle finger on the tactile symbol to distinguish it every time they found a new one. The ratio of the search times for target-absent to target-present trials is precise alignment with the occurrence rate of repetitive search trials.

HaptiComm: A Touch-Mediated Communication Device for Deafblind Individuals

Deafblindness is a unique disability characterized by a dual sensory reduction of both hearing and vision. For some Deafblind individuals, communication via touch may be their most accessible sensory channel. Multiple techniques that rely purely on touch exist within the Deafblind community. One method of interest referred to as “Deafblind Tactile Fingerspelling Alphabet” in Australia or “Deafblind Manual Alphabet” in the U.K., comprises twenty-six tactile symbols representing the letters of the Latin alphabet. This letter describes the HaptiComm, a device designed to reproduce the sensations generated during fingerspelling communication. The HaptiComm comprises an array of twenty-four strategically placed electrodynamic actuators specifically designed to produce distinct tactile sensations upon which the fingerspelling alphabet is constructed. The first experimental evaluation showed promising results suggesting further investigations related to the timing and the pace at which the stimuli are produced.

Science and Art: Transcreation: Introduction to Special Section: Transcreation and Accessibility

The nature of translation has provided the focus of longstanding debates. While some scholars pursue translation as an aesthetic, creativity-driven activity, others explore the practical functions or social utility of translation in fulfilling unmet needs. The term transcreation is used here to denote a purposeful integration of both approaches to translation to serve the needs of diverse people for information in an accessible, equitable, inclusive, creative and engaging way. The term transcreation highlights the nature of translation as an inventive, resourceful, human-centered activity that seeks to eliminate barriers to the communication and understanding between languages, cultures, communities, and individuals of all capabilities.The acquisition of information requires a human-centered design of messages and modality, or the signified and signifier. According to semiology, the link of sign to reality is arbitrary, and the representation of the signified is equally arbitrary. The combination of different signified and signifier pairs contributes to the complexity of language systems. This also encapsulates the uncertainty, variability and creativity in translation, which is intended to establish meaningful links between language and cultural systems. Instead of providing uniform answers, in the process of mediating, negotiating between languages, cultures and modalities, translation affords many possibilities for being open to purposeful interventions to achieve intended outcomes. Debates in translation often focus on the inherent imbalance, asymmetry and reconcilability between linguistic and sociocultural systems. The diversity and variability of readers’ needs tends to remain as hidden as the translators themselves. There is an increasing need to turn the focus to readers as the end users of translated materials and prioritize information accessibility above other translation concerns. Words, texts, discourses have been studied extensively—prominently in translation studies. However, their integration and interaction with visual signs and symbols, tactual and auditory stimulus, or other sensory cues can significantly improve the accessibility of information to diverse audiences. Transcreation is a theoretical framework that supports and legitimates creative interventions at different levels, including lexical, structural, semantic and modal, that recognize, accommodate and promote the diversity and variability in the needs for information from the audiences.Ilan Manouach’s article explores the viability and acceptability of using creative haptic equivalents of alphabet-based linguistic systems to develop touch readers of comics for people with visual impairments. The accessibility installation Shapereader has the capacity to translate lexical meanings to tactile symbols that are accessible by visually impaired readers from different age groups and language, cultural and educational backgrounds. The success of this creative, transmodal approach to accessible comics translation raised awareness of diversification in readerships and illustrated the highly creative, resourceful nature of accessible translation. The article by Dario Rodighiero explores the design of visual networks of conference proceedings that embodies the principles of connectedness, inclusivity and equality among conference contributors. These principles were represented by continuous, spherical surfaces of visualized networks based on the computational modeling of lexical similarity of proceeding texts. The innovation of this approach consists in expanding the dual dimensionality of the visual representation of textual, numerical information to support the interpretation of complex quantitative information in a visually and cognitively accessible manner. The author also experimented with and compared spherical networks after applying different digital cartographic projection techniques. This approach offers insights into the impact of visual techniques on the representation and understanding of networks of individual information, which can aid in the discovery and exploration of higher-level knowledge from primary quantitative textual data. Using translation techniques to increase the accessibility of standard cinematographic practices for audiences with special needs, Pablo Romero-Fresco’s article describes the emerging field of accessible film production. Rather than exclude these audiences from the production process, the innovative approach proposed involves codesigning and coevaluating accessible films with people with visual or auditory impairments. In order to illustrate the codesign process, the author provides examples of sign language interpreters who effectively integrated visual aids for people with hearing impairments into the overall artistic performance for the general audience. As a result, accessibility becomes an inseparable part of standard film production rather than an unnatural addition.Transcreation is an ongoing, iterative project, incorporating the inspirations, visions and innovative efforts of artists, translators, disability researchers and designers that showcase the viability and productivity of human-centered translation-related activities construed in a broad, interdisciplinary sense. The case studies illustrate that innovative transcreation can help us to explore new ways of communicating that are less dependent on physical capabilities and less demanding of cognitive skills to process complex information in large quantities. Transcreation can effectively leverage instruments, techniques and technologies to increase the accessibility of information. From craftsmanship such as tactile ideograms to modern techniques such as data visualization and digital cartographic projection, transcreation represents a sustainable, equitable, inclusive way to engage with and mediate between different languages, cultures and modalities with the diversity and equality in humanity at the heart of information communications.

Applying height differentiation of tactile symbols to reduce the minimum horizontal distances between them on tactile maps.

In this paper, we wanted to verify the hypothesis that extruding cartographic symbols on tactile maps to different heights might allow reducing the minimum (suggested in the literature) horizontal distances between them, without impacting the overall map's legibility. This approach might allow preparing tactile maps in smaller scales and thus, reducing production cost, or putting additional spatial information on the same map sheet that would not fit otherwise. To verify the hypothesis we have prepared 6 different stimuli variants with or without height differentiation applied and different horizontal distances between tactile symbols adopted (1 mm, 2 mm and 3 mm). In the controlled study sessions with 30 participants with visual impairments we have measured the times required for solving 3 different spatial tasks on 3D printed tactile stimuli. We have also performed qualitative analysis to learn participants' opinions about the proposed design and materials used. It turns out that applying height differentiation not only results in shorter times required for solving spatial tasks but is also considered by blind individuals as a convenient improvement in terms of use comfort and allows reduction of recommended minimum horizontal distances between symbols on tactile maps.

Perspectives about implementation of colour codes on maps accessible to blind people

ABSTRACT Tactile colour codes or tactile symbols were developed for communicating colours to blind people. Initially, these colour codes were designed to enable blind or visually impaired people to choose their own clothes and learn colour theory. The objective of this research is to investigate the perspectives of geoinformation professionals on the viability of implementing colour codes on thematic tactile maps using only the graphic primitive area. Thus, geoinformation professionals were invited to express their perspectives on ten colour code systems during and after the “I Workshop Usability 4 All”, which took place during the “XI Brazilian Colloquium on Geodetic Sciences”, Brazil, 2020. The results indicated that there is no consensus on which system is more appropriate for experimentation on tactile maps. However, Feelipa Color and See Color were the systems that showed the greatest potential as six participants preferred the first and five preferred the latter. This is associated with the fact that both systems were classified as relatively viable or potentially viable for implementation in the primitive area, considering the aspects of Drawing, Dimensions and Intuitiveness.

Performance Assessment Through Motion Literation to Assess The Motoric Skill of Junior High School Students Based on Laban Notation

Motor skills integrate physical functions and coordination between the brain as a center for information and control through visual activities (reading) and tactile (writing) movement symbols. Symbols and motion codes are found in labanotation, so the ability to read symbols and write symbol patterns is called motion literacy. It can be done through continuous assessment continuously in an effort to diagnose their abilities. The results of the study describe a change in the condition of students’ motor skills after intervention through labanotation-based motion literacy work assessment, namely the change in conditions from the intervention condition (B) to the final baseline condition (A’) decreases the students’ adaptability. However, at the final baseline condition (A’), the motor ability score improved better than in the phase before baseline (A). The total average score obtained in this condition was 62.86%. Thus it can be concluded that the effect of performance appraisal through motion literacy provides benefits for improving brain function because structured and programmed motion exercises are useful in stimulating various learning centers in the brain. This also impacts on improving motor skills in students to undergo the learning process at a later stage.

Métodos y técnicas para la construcción de símbolos táctiles hacia una Cartografía Inclusiva

Este artículo presenta una reflexión sobre la experiencia de varios años de los autores con relación a la producción de representaciones gráficas táctiles, con énfasis en la generación de los símbolos (lineales, arenales y puntuales) empleados para representar informaciones geocartográficas. Se presentarán los símbolos que ya están estandarizados, así como las metodologías utilizadas para su definición y construcción. Aprovechando como ejemplo la simbología de algunos mapas táctiles turísticos serán discutidas las características necesarias para que los signos sean comprendidos por los usuarios, principalmente los que tienen deficiencia visual.Un producto cartográfico táctil permite al discapacitado visual acceder a la información y el conocimiento geográfico por medio de los símbolos táctiles y la escritura Braille que acompaña cada uno de los productos cartográficos. Este tipo de cartografía táctil permite representar la información de una forma adecuada y entendible para el usuario ciego, lo cual implica utilizar símbolos táctiles cuidadosamente diseñados lo que permitirá reconocer y generar una imagen mental del área geográfica representada.Es importante señalar, que la adecuada instrucción en la lectura táctil, en el lenguaje Braille y el conocimiento previo de la variable geográfica representada que tenga la persona ciega, le facilitará extraer información de un mapa táctil, de un gráfico o de imágenes en relieve.

Interpretação de pessoas cegas sobre símbolos 3D em Mapa Tátil de Ambiente Indoor

Este artículo presenta una investigación sobre la elaboración de símbolos táctiles para mapas indoor fabricados con una impresora 3D utilizando el método de creación rápida de prototipos. El área de estudio es la planta baja del Pabellón de Aulas Glauber Rocha de la Universidad Federal de Bahía, ubicada en la ciudad de Salvador-Brasil. A partir del método Think Aloud, se evaluó un mapa táctil con la participación de ocho personas ciegas y se verificó que el mapa era útil para comunicar información espacial del área de estudio y que la cartografía táctil puede avanzar en el desarrollo de símbolos en mapas para ayudar en la movilidad interior, es decir, la elección de rutas para moverse dentro de los edificios.

Spatial perspective taking is related to social intelligence and attachment style

Individuals differ both in spatial and social perspective-taking, yet the links between the two are not well understood. Individuals differ in the spatial perspective they naturally adopt, but also in their ability to change perspectives. The present study investigated whether individual differences in spatial perspective-taking are related to social intelligence and adult attachment style. Spatial perspective-taking was measured using a graphesthesia task, in which ambiguous tactile symbols can be interpreted from different spatial perspectives. The task identified the spatial perspective individuals spontaneously adopted, then assessed the ability to change between natural and unnatural perspectives. Participants demonstrated a cost of switching to an unnatural perspective and a benefit of returning to their natural perspective. A greater cost of switching to an unnatural perspective was associated with lower anxious attachment. A stronger benefit of returning to one's natural perspective was associated with higher social intelligence. These findings suggest that a strong grounding in one's natural spatial perspective is associated with lower interpersonal anxiety and higher social intelligence. Building on these results, future studies should further investigate causal relationships between social and spatial perspective-taking.

New Media Art Research Focused on Tactile Symbols

The progress and development of scientific technology has resulted in the increased diversification of art. This is especially true in the field of new media art, in which artists are using scientific methods to enrich and ex-pand the content of art. When we interpret such works, we must not only use our vision; we may also need to use our hearing, touch, and other senses to gain an in-depth perception of the information transmitted by the works. During the information transmission process, symbols are a kind of medium that can express unique functions. This article will focus on the sense of touch to examine the tactile symbols in new media art, use individual works as examples to conduct an analysis, and finally propose methods for using art to benefit socie-ty. This study will use a large number of case studies to derive the important influence of tactile symbols on the creation of new media art. In the three aspects of art and touch, art and tactile symbols, and tactile symbols in new media art, the new research media centered on tactile symbols is treated with a deep examination. Finally, we will consider how the relationship between touch and human society and the development of art suggests the use of tactile experiences in new media art.

Specifications of Cartographic Symbols for Indonesian Tactile Map

Visual impairment people require a means of information transfer which different from normal people, it needs to be touched or amplified by audio, including maps that apprise them of the objects and events occurring on Earth. Cartographic Sciences have developed tactile maps that offers touchable symbols for supporting blind and partially sighted people in recognizing the spatial distribution of geographical phenomena and their intercorrelation. Creating an informative tactile maps need a specific design of symbol, ancillary information, and map reproduction that meets the need and the capacity of its users. Unfortunately, there has been no international standardization for these map features that could be used as a foundation to build a standardization for our national tactile map. Therefore, this research adopted and modified the designs of tactile symbols published by the National Mapping Council of Australia, the Guidelines for Design of Tactile Graphics by American Printing House, the use of tactile variables by Vasconcellos, the Specifications of Topographic Elements Mapping by Bakosurtanal, and the application of visual variables of Bertin for cartographic mapping. The resultant symbol designs from the modification were applied to develop the tactile maps of Yogyakarta City on swell paper. Then, through interviews with map users (visually impaired people in the city), we evaluated these symbols from two aspects, comprehension of tactile variables and the types of the tactile maps required.

Particular qualities of buildings' transit spaces finishing with respect to the needs of the Blind visitors

The article defines a list of properties of finishing materials, contrast of which creates the potential for improving the effectiveness of visually impaired visitors’ orientation in buildings’ transit spaces. The expediency of accentuating important elements with materials contrasting in texture, thermal conductivity, degree of sound absorption, size, shape of the module and aroma in relation to the main surfaces is established. The contrast of the surface finish of basic planes and their fragments can be used rationally to form tactile symbols, to accentuate important functional zones, and to warn of approaching a dangerous element. Materials contrasting by the thermal conductivity relatively to the main covering plane can be applied in the finishing of the guide planes to accentuate them at the level of thermal sensations. The use of natural wooden railing against the background of glass and metal enclosure could serve an example of such a solution. The use of facing materials, contrasting in terms of sound absorption, the magnitude and geometric form of modules, provides variations in the frequency, height and tone quality of the sound created by visitor's steps and cane. Such a feature can be used to simplify the non-visual identification of key fragments of transit space. Physical properties of facing materials influence the time of reverberation of sound in the premises, which is primarily determined by the size and geometric form of the interior space. This determines the importance of the right choice of finishing materials, taking into account their acoustic properties. The decrease in reverberation, which is associated with a decrease in the size of the room, is achieved with ridget or jagged covering panels, which have a high degree of absorption, and the increase, on the contrary – with flat glossy tiles. In practice of construction of specialized buildings for the Blind the flooring materials are advised to be selected in such a way as to create simultaneous tactile and acoustic contrast. Foer example a combination of a wooden floor with a ceramic tile is contrasting on the surface finish, height and tone quality of the created sound. It has been established that the scent of finishing materials is rarely used by architects as a mean of marking element in the space, while facing materials determine the presence of a special odor in the room and it’s concentration. Consideration of this feature in design of transit spaces creates additional potential for improving the orientation of the visually impaired persons.

An evaluation of tactile symbols in public environment for the visually impaired

This study evaluated the identification performance of a set of tactile symbols used in public environments for the visually impaired. A questionnaire survey was carried out to investigate the public environment needs from 60 visually impaired associations. A two-stage experiment with a matching test was then conducted to explore the identification efficiency of graphic tactile public information symbols. Eighty-one students were recruited as participants from a school for the visually impaired. The survey results show that fourteen public buildings were frequently visited and ten architectural elements were mostly needed by the visually impaired. The experimental results showed the correct response of graphic symbols tested in both two-stage experiments could meet the identification criterion of 90% and even better except for the escalator/elevator with 87.0% in the second stage. Relevant confusion among the graphic symbols tested was found. Some suggestions were made in the study.

Usability Evaluation of Tactile Map Symbols across Three Production Technologies

Introduction Technological advances have introduced three-dimensional (3-D) printing as an option for creating tactile maps for people with visual impairments (that is, those who are blind or have low vision), diversifying the types of map products that are available. At the same time, it presents a challenge to map makers to implement designs across multiple production methods. We evaluated map symbols to determine their discriminability across three different materials: microcapsule paper, 3-D printer plastic, and embossed paper. Methods In a single session lasting less than 90 minutes, participants completed a matching task and provided informal feedback regarding their preferences. We measured speed and accuracy to establish discriminability of map symbols on each of the materials. Eighteen participants were recruited from a referred sample among attendees at the American Council of the Blind annual convention in 2013. Results Response times were significantly different across the three materials (p < 0.001). Without sacrificing accuracy, response times were faster for the 3-D printed graphics than for either the microcapsule paper (p < 0.001) or the embossed paper (p < 0.001). User preference was divided across the three materials. Some people disliked the “sharp” corners of the 3-D printed symbols, while others preferred their “crisp” edges. Discussion Our results demonstrate faster discriminability of a set of tactile symbols produced on a 3-D printer compared to those same symbols printed on microcapsule paper, the material for which the symbols were originally designed. Participant feedback reflected preferences both in favor of and against reading symbols produced on the 3-D printer. Implications for practitioners This article discusses the functional equivalence of tactile symbols produced across multiple production technologies. It addresses two considerations when using 3-D printing to make tactile maps: preparing digital files for printing and the printing work flow. Digital files ready for printing on each of the three materials are available for download (Brittell, Lobben, & Lawrence 2016).

A Phonemic-Based Tactile Display for Speech Communication.

Despite a long history of research, the development of synthetic tactual aids to support the communication of speech has proven to be a difficult task. The current paper describes a new tactile speech device based on the presentation of phonemic-based tactile codes. The device consists of 24 tactors under independent control for stimulation at the forearm. Using properties that include frequency and waveform of stimulation, amplitude, spatial location, and movement characteristics, unique tactile codes were designed for 39 consonant and vowel phonemes of the English language. The strategy for mapping the phonemes to tactile symbols is described, and properties of the individual phonemic codes are provided. Results are reported for an exploratory study of the ability of 10 young adults to identify the tactile symbols. The participants were trained to identify sets of consonants and vowels, before being tested on the full set of 39 tactile codes. The results indicate a mean recognition rate of 86 percent correct within one to four hours of training across participants. Thus, these results support the viability of a phonemic-based approach for conveying speech information through the tactile sense.

A unity of the self or a multiplicity of locations? How the graphesthesia task sheds light on the role of spatial perspectives in bodily self-consciousness.

Integrating multisensory stimuli from a self-centred perspective is crucial for the unity of the self. On the other hand, understanding external space and communicating spatial knowledge with others necessitate the adoption of decentred perspectives. How do we juggle these two requirements? In this article, we review those studies that have used the graphesthesia task in order to investigate the perspectives that people adopt when interpreting ambiguous tactile symbols (e.g., b, d, p, and q). With such ambiguous symbols, self-centred and decentred perspectives conflict with one another. The results reviewed here reveal that the perspectives adopted vary significantly with spatial, personal, and interpersonal factors. Such findings suggest that the self can adopt a multiplicity of spatial locations. However, the unity of the self can partly be explained by the predominance of a head-centred perspective. On the other hand, perspective-taking abilities contribute to the distinction between self and others, reinforcing self-consciousness.

Haptic Search in Divided Areas: Optimizing the Number of Divisions

AbstractThe present study investigates the efficiency of haptic search facilitated by the division of the searchable area. Previous studies have shown that scales provided around tactile maps for blind persons can shorten the search time for tactile symbols on the maps, but the optimum number of divisions has not been found. We conducted an experiment in which maps with different numbers of divisions were presented to blindfolded participants. The search times for tactile targets on the maps were measured and a movie that recorded searching behavior was analyzed. Our results indicate that scales with 3 × 4 divisions minimize search time, and the movie analysis reveals that this optimization is determined by the time of both scale‐counting and target‐searching. This finding elucidates the manner of human haptic search and should be utilized for the optimization of automated tactile map creation.

The Graphesthesia Paradigm: Drawing Letters on the Body to Investigate the Embodied Nature of Perspective-Taking.

In this study, we investigated whether adopting a head-centered perspective on the body is an embodied process by means of the graphesthesia task. This task consists of interpreting ambiguous tactile symbols from different spatial perspectives. The results revealed that symbols were more easily recognized when the mental rotation of the head toward the stimulated surface corresponded to physically possible, as opposed to impossible, body movements. Performance also decreased with increasing the amount of body movements that would be necessary to physically rotate the head. These results are in line with an embodied view of spatial perspective-taking, and, more generally, they highlight the important role the body plays in perception.

A comparison of three materials used for tactile symbols to communicate colour to children and young people with visual impairments

A series of 14 tactile symbols were developed to represent different colours and shades for children and young people who are blind or have visual impairment. A study compared three different methods for representing the symbols: (1) embroidered thread, (2) heated ‘swell’ paper, and (3) representation in plastic using Additive Manufacturing (AM; three-dimensional printing). The results show that for all three materials, the recognition of particular symbols varied between 2.40 and 3.95 s. The average times for the three materials across all colours were 2.26 s for AM material, 3.20 s for swell paper, and 4.03 s for embroidered symbols. These findings can be explained by the fact that the AM material (polylactide) is firmer and more easily perceived tactually than the other two materials. While AM plastic offers a potentially useful means to communicate colours for appropriate objects, traditional media are still important in certain contexts.