The Use of Environmental Features on Tactile Maps by Navigators Who Are
Blind
Amy Lobben and Megan Lawrence
University of Oregon
There exist over 100 standard symbols that the USGS (U.S. Geological
Survey) include in their maps. For sighted users these maps facilitate map
cognition, this understanding of the symbols allows more time spent in the
understanding of the geography than the understanding of the symbols.Although this cannot be said for textual maps.
There are various obstacles with tactile maps, the most prominent ones
would be the limited research in the area and that some of the technical
factors that are straightforward in visual maps present some difficulties in
tactile maps. Without the use of vision, blind people rely on other channels to
gain the necessary information to travel; textual maps provide that. Tactile
maps are linked to better spatial decisions making, environmental knowledge and
independent travel.
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| Example of a tactile map. |
Unlike vision-based maps research and financial support are not
available for tactile mapping software, since it is unlikely to become a
for-profit venture in the near future. Most tactile map makers are teachers,
who are employed through special education programs. They rarely have training
and limited resources from which to choose from. These teachers usually do not
use Arcmap or Adobe Illustrator, but simply rely on a collage method, which is
low cost and yields a single, non portable map. There exist attempts to use
different software to be able to grow the availability for good quality tactile
maps. Programs such as TAMP (Tactile Map Automated Production) which uses GIS
technology and a graphic compatibility with Braille and TaME (Tactile Map
Editor) which requires no previews cartography experience.
Another problem with Tactile mapping is the symbology used in the maps.
Point symbols must be easy and large enough to interpret, and in different
countries the symbols might vary, which means that without standardized symbols
the user must memorize the symbols on each individual map.
To simplified Textual maps a survey was made from 144 participants which
were blind, asking them to identify the symbols or areas that they believed to
be most useful or important on maps. The image below represents the answeres:
The
conclusion in the study was the creation of the most accessible and affordable
way to create tactile maps was to develop a symbol set by combining the most
important environmental features with texture, while using a microcapsule
paper. The standardization of the symbology for tactile maps is vital to enhancing
the use and understanding of these maps.
Hannah
This is fascinating! I've never thought about maps for those who are blind. It seems like a completely different area, figuring out how best to communicate space and location through non-visual symbols, but GIS can still be used for this. Hopefully the demand for tactile maps will be great enough to warrant more research, maybe through a non-profit since the sector is unlikely to be profitable.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ellen- its really interesting to convey something so visual (a map) using other senses (touch). As far a common symbology goes, I like the idea of linking topographical features with texture. It seems like a map in which a small space must include a name, a border, and a geographical or social data would be really hectic to interpret. Different methods of representing data on maps could be representing a single map through different layers such as the border first, then classification of places and then geographical data... though this would be very expensive.
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