A New Approach to Assist Virtual Image Accessibility for Visually Impaired People

Abstract

Currently, graphical data is becoming increasingly ubiquitous with new technologies. However, today’s technologies are still of limited access to such representations (images, graphs, charts$\ldots$) for Visually Impaired People (VIP). The quantity and quality of presented information are key points of efficient accessibility. Therefore, this paper proposes the presentation of such information via a tactile gist (a tactile representation of essential data). New rules for 2D data representation (e.g. paintings, images, maps) are proposed via the tactile gist, which helps us, especially VIP, to understand them. These rules are deduced from experiments lead with VIP for tactile gist representations on two supports - thermoformed paper and dedicated original force-feedback based device named F2T (Fore Feedback Tablet). These rules take into account the human touch/haptic sense specificities and human cognitive capabilities. Such rules should be included in the design of any assistance to 2D data accessible by the VIP.

This research has been financially supported, via different research projects, by the CCAH (Le Comité National Coordination Action Handicap), Région de Normandie, and European Commission (FEDER) and ANR (Inclusive museum Guide). We thank students and staff of the University of Rouen Normandie, and the VIP, members of our research team or from VIP charities, for their participation in our evaluations.