Usability Evaluation of Tactile Map Symbols across Three Production Technologies
ISBN 978-85-88783-11-9
Authors
1Brittell, M.; 2Lobben, A.; 3Lawrence, M.
1UNIVERSITY OF OREGON Email: megen@uoregon.edu
2UNIVERSITY OF OREGON Email: lobben@uoregon.edu
3ACCESSGEO Email: megan@accessgeo.us
Abstract
Technological advances have expanded the available options for creating tactile maps including three dimensional (3D) printing. This expansion provides an opportunity to customize tactile map products to better meet the needs of a diverse population of map readers, including people with visual disabilities. At the same time, it presents a challenge to map makers to implement general designs across multiple production methods. And, because 3D printing technologies are relatively new to the popular market, evaluation of 3D printed map products by map makers and map users is still incomplete. The research presented in this paper was designed to evaluate the discriminability of tactile map symbols across three substrates, created through three different tactile map production methods: microcapsule paper, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) on a 3D printer, and embossed paper. Discriminability was measured based on performance (speed and accuracy) in a matching task across the three substrates. Response times were statistically significantly faster (without a decrease in accuracy) for the 3D-printed graphics than for the other two substrates. User preference was divided across the three materials. In addition to the results of performance in a matching task, we also share our experience with the 3D printing production process. Digital files ready for printing on each of the three substrates are available for download from the lab website.
Keywords
Tactile maps; 3D printing; User testing