Enhanced Graph Presentations for Visually Impaired Users: Innovative Approaches to Improve Accessibility
MIT Develops Tool to Simplify Creation of Tactile Charts for the Visually Impaired
A new program developed by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) aims to streamline the design process for tactile charts, making it easier for blind and low-vision readers to understand various graphics. The tool, called Tactile Vega-Lite, can take data from sources like Excel spreadsheets and convert it into both standard visual charts and tactile ones.
Tactile Vega-Lite Follows Best Design Practices and Enhances Accessibility
The program build's off of an earlier visualization tool, Vega-Lite, by automatically encoding both a flat, standard chart and a tactile one. It also incorporates design standards as default rules within the program to help educators and designers create accessible tactile charts without extensive knowledge of software.
The tool makes intuitive design decisions and offers customization options, such as adjusting axis labels, tick marks, and other elements. Different features within the chart are represented by abstractions, which can be modified using brief phrases. For instance, modifying the code in the "Texture" section can change how the bars in a graph are filled out.
A gallery of examples is included to help users understand how abstractions work. In the future, the team plans to refine Tactile Vega-Lite's user interface to make it more accessible to users less familiar with coding by incorporating buttons for edits instead of using abstractions.
The researchers also hope to add machine-specific customizations, allowing users to preview their tactile chart before it's embossed and make edits according to the device's specifications.
Collaboration and Future Developments
The research team incorporated input from MIT's Disability and Access Services and the Lighthouse for the Blind during the project. They also wrote a paper about Tactile Vega-Lite, which will be presented at the Association of Computing Machinery Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems this spring.
According to Stacy Fontenot, owner of Font to Dot, the tool provides equal access to information for tactile readers by creating graphics that follow current guidelines and standards. She also notes that the straightforward interface reduces the design time required to create effective tactile charts.
The researchers plan to continue incorporating Braille design rules into their program and encourage users to seek expert guidance for a final check-over. They hope that the tool will help improve accessibility in data visualization for blind and low-vision readers.
In-Depth Information and Collaboration Opportunities
For more detailed technical information or potential applications, interested parties can reach out to the researchers at MIT CSAIL. Academic papers and research articles related to Tactile Vega-Lite may also provide valuable insights into the tool's functionality and future developments.
Tactile Vega-Lite can make a significant impact on the ability of blind and low-vision readers to understand various graphics. By streamlining the creation of tactile charts, the tool encourages developers and educators to prioritize accessibility and deliver valuable information more efficiently.
- The new program, Tactile Vega-Lite, developed by researchers at MIT, follows best design practices and enhances accessibility for blind and low-vision readers by simplifying the design process for tactile charts.
- Tactile Vega-Lite automatically encodes both a standard visual chart and a tactile one, incorporating design standards as default rules within the program.
- The tool offers customization options, allowing users to adjust axis labels, tick marks, and other elements, and uses abstractions to represent different features within the chart.
- The researchers plan to refine Tactile Vega-Lite's user interface in the future, making it more accessible to users less familiar with coding by incorporating buttons for edits instead of using abstractions.
- The team also plans to add machine-specific customizations, allowing users to preview their tactile chart before it's embossed and make edits according to the device's specifications.
- The researchers encourage users to seek expert guidance for a final check-over and hope that the tool will help improve accessibility in data visualization for blind and low-vision readers.
