Touch explorer: Exploring digital maps for visually impaired people

Abstract

This paper describes an interaction concept for persons with visual impairments to explore digital maps. Mobile map applications like Google Maps have become an important instrument for navigation and exploration. However, existing map applications are highly visually oriented, making them inaccessible to users with visual impairments. This ongoing research project aims to develop an accessible digital map application in which information is presented in a non-visual way. Analysis of existing market solutions shows that information retention is highest when a combination of different output modalities is used. As a result, a prototype app has been created using three major non-visual modalities: Voice output (speech synthesis), everyday sounds (e.g. car traffic), and vibration feedback. User tests were performed, and based on the test results, the Touch Explorer app was developed. Initial usability tests are described in this paper.