Design and User Satisfaction of Interactive Maps for Visually Impaired People
This addresses accessibility for visually impaired individuals by providing a user-friendly interactive map, though it is incremental as it builds on existing multimodal approaches.
The researchers tackled the problem of presenting spatial information to visually impaired people by developing an interactive multimodal map prototype using a tactile paper map, multi-touch screen, and audio output, and found it achieved a high level of user satisfaction independent of age, visual experience, or Braille experience.
Multimodal interactive maps are a solution for presenting spatial information to visually impaired people. In this paper, we present an interactive multimodal map prototype that is based on a tactile paper map, a multi-touch screen and audio output. We first describe the different steps for designing an interactive map: drawing and printing the tactile paper map, choice of multi-touch technology, interaction technologies and the software architecture. Then we describe the method used to assess user satisfaction. We provide data showing that an interactive map - although based on a unique, elementary, double tap interaction - has been met with a high level of user satisfaction. Interestingly, satisfaction is independent of a user's age, previous visual experience or Braille experience. This prototype will be used as a platform to design advanced interactions for spatial learning.