Title:
Exploring tactile graphics - which strategies work?
Author:
Heather Cryer, Dave Gunn.
Publisher:
RNIB Centre for Accessible Information.
Year of publication:
2008.
Background
Whilst much effort goes into the design and production of high quality tactile graphics, we must acknowledge that even the best materials may be of little benefit if users do not know how to use them.
This paper considers the importance of teaching systematic exploration strategies to users of tactile graphics, to help them to gain more information from the graphics.
Drawing together research evidence and experience and knowledge within the field, this paper considers a range of strategies used to explore tactile graphics, and aims to highlight those strategies which lead to effective understanding of graphics.
Five key areas are addressed; the initial scan, systematic strategies, line tracing and distinctive features analysis, frames of reference and spatial relationships.
Key findings
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An initial scan of the graphic gives users information about size, positioning, and orientation
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Being systematic in exploration aids performance, which may be due to the sequential encoding of information
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Line tracing and distinctive features analysis are useful skills which are often used together
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Focusing on spatial relationships (such as noting positions of elements in relation to each other) aids memory of a graphic
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Using frames of reference (either body-centred, or a frame on the graphic itself such as a border) help users to understand positions of elements within a graphic
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