A Study on Tactile map design for blind people in Korea
ISBN 978-85-88783-11-9
Authors
1Oh, C.; 2Park, J.; 3Choi, J.
1DEPT. OF GIS ENGINEERING, NAMSEOUL UNIVERSITY, KOREA Email: ohrora@nsu.ac.kr
2DEPT. OF GIS ENGINEERING, NAMSEOUL UNIVERSITY, KOREA Email: gisdata@nsu.ac.kr
3Kyung Hee University
Abstract
This study focused on designing Tactile map for blind people in Korea. Tactile maps are read by touch in a similar way to braille and moon text. The basic principle of tactile map design is to present an extremely simple version of a visual image. So, tactile maps and diagrams need to be carefully designed in order to be readable by the visually impaired. Blind people will only be able to understand what is represented if they are able to feel each part of a raised image, and discriminate between them. Tactile discriminability depends on the quality of symbol and map designs, particularly the spacing between each part of a map or diagram. In such background, each country has developed a standard guidelines for designing tactile graphics. In America, American Printing House for the Blind (APH) has published guidelines for designing tactile graphics in 1997. Braille Authority of North America and the Canadian Braille Authority has also published ‘Guidelines and Standards for Tactile Graphics’ in 2010. In Europe, ‘Netherlands Library for Audio Books and Braille’ has developed tactile graphics manual called ‘On Editing Graphics for The Blind’ between from 1989 to 2002. But these guideline is not focused on cartographic but focused on general tactile graphics. Furthermore, these standard for westerners may not agree with Asian people because of physical differences such as fingers and cultural difference on symbol between Asian and Westerner. In Japan, Geospatial Information Authority of Japan has developed Cartographic Tactile Map Production System for Blind Persons since 1997. They had started developing program for printing tactile maps with the embosser. Finally they developed tactile mapping system for general map in 2008. This system is focused making personal tactile mapping. But there is a lack of consideration of ‘Graphicacy of Maps’. ‘Graphicacy of Maps’ is concerned with the capacities people require in order to interpret and generate information in the form of Geographic information such as Cartographic Map. In Korea, National Geographic Information Institute has started making cartographic tactile mapping guideline in 2014. So, this study was conducted with the help of the National Geographic Information Institute of Korea. We focused on ‘Graphicacy of Maps’ in map reading through tactile maps of Korea that help making mental map. The results were as follows. Firstly, important cartographic information on general topographic map are selected for blind people. The 76 map symbols used in general topographic map of Korea were reduced to 47 symbols. For example, Road is important information, but Shore line is not useful for the visually impaired. Secondly, tactile symbols are categorized and designed by thematic category and Map Scale. 6 Thematic Category is classified for Geographic Feature. Main Category has same symbol such as line, rectangle, rhombus, inverted triangle, triangle, circle, etc. And that symbol depends on the scale. For example, Highway and General road has same symbol but divided into Braille on the right. Highway is shown on both Large scale and Small Scale map, but General road is shown on only Large Scale Map. Table 1 shows Road symbols in Tactile Map. Category Type Geographic Feature Symbol Korean Line type Scale Small Large Transport Highway ◇GO - 3mm Line O O ◇@u General Road ◇DO - 1mm line X O ◇iu Table 1. Sample symbols in Tactile Map Thirdly, Tactile map layout is designed for ‘Graphicacy of Maps’. Figure 1 Shows Tactile Map Layout of Korea. The latitude and longitude are expressed on the outskirts of Map. Braille Scale bar is shown on the bottom to measure the distance. Figure 2 Shows Braille and Auditory Displays for the Blind. Legend and Map Explanation with Braille is lay out on left side of map. Particularly, Voice Code for the Blind on top left could be played Audio explanation through special aid device or smart phone.
Keywords
tactile map; blind people; Graphicacy of Maps