Investigating phicon feedback in non-visual tangible user interfaces

Abstract

We investigated ways that users could interact with Phicons in non-visual tabletop tangible user interfaces (TUIs). We carried out a brainstorming and rapid prototyping session with a blind usability expert, using two different non-visual TUI scenarios to quickly explore the design space. From this, we derived a basic set of guidelines and interactions that are common in both scenarios, and which we believe are common in most non-visual tabletop TUI applications. Future work is focused on validating our findings in a fully functioning system.