Interactive tactile maps, visual disability, and accessibility of building interiors

Arditi, Aries, Holmes, Emily, Reedijk, Peter and Whitehouse, Roger (1999) Interactive tactile maps, visual disability, and accessibility of building interiors. Visual Impairment Research, 1 (1), 11-21. (doi:10.1076/vimr.1.1.11.4456).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Objectives: To test the feasibility of interactive tactile maps as a public intervention for the effects of severe vision loss on the loss of travel independence in building interiors. Methods: An experiment in which wayfinding performance of blind participants was compared after planning routes with either an interactive tactile map or mock ‘bystander’ directions. Additionally, a questionnaire assessing perceived usefulness of the system was administered. Results: There were significantly fewer errors, and significantly more errorless way-finding trials in the interactive map condition than in the bystander directions condition. Participant ratings of usefulness and ease of use of the interactive map averaged 5.59 on a 1-7 Likert scale. Conclusions: Interactive tactile maps may provide an effective intervention for increasing access of blind persons in building interiors.

This record has no associated files available for download.