SLIDE 1

Tactiles and other Strategies to Describe Complex GraphicsElizabeth PyattPenn State Universityejp10@psu.edu

SLIDE 2Outline

Defining Tactiles Braille Lettering Simplify for Tactiles Tactile Alternatives Long Description Lists and Tables

SLIDE 3Why Tactiles?Some images hard to describeSample Text DescriptionThe figure in the foreground is the first to capture the viewer’s attention. Its hands are held to its head and its mouth is wide open in a silent scream, which is amplified by the undulating movement running through the surrounding landscape. The figure is ambiguous and it is hard to say whether it is a man or a woman, young or old – or even if it is human at all. Despite radical simplification, the landscape in the picture is recognisable as the Kristiania Fjord seen from Ekeberg, with a broad view over the fjord, the town and the hills beyond. In the background to the left, at the end of the path with the balustrade that cuts diagonally across the picture, we see two strolling figuresNational Museum of Norway

SLIDE 4And now the image(s)The Scream

Pinshape.com https://pinshape.com/items/6750-3d-printed-the-scream

SLIDE 5Embossed: Braille Dots for Lines Periodic Table, National Braille Press, Boston

SLIDE 6Embossed on Paper:Bar Chart

Note: image is very light)

SLIDE 7With Color (for the sighted)Map of Morocco

SLIDE 8Swell: Heat raised lines/shapesCeltic Knot

SLIDE 9Arts & Crafts: Hand MadeTraditional EmbossingPuff PaintPipe Cleaners/Wax sticksEmbroideryKnittingSculpture…

SLIDE 10Initial PrintCleft Palate (Communications Disorders)

Image based on Wikemedia Commons image by Wikipedia user Felsir

SLIDE 11Swell Printing with Heat

SLIDE 12Embossing vs. Swell TableTechnique Swell Emboss (Paper)

Shapes +1 Like  BlankBraille Letters  Blank +1 LikePrinter Cost Over $1,000 Over $5,000Graphics Software

Many conventional options

Need to convert image

Paper Custom paper Thick pin feed paper or other

SLIDE 13Shout Out to BANA Tactile Guidelines

BANA Guidelines and Standards for Tactile Graphicso http://brailleauthority.org/tg / o Lots of good exampleso Sometimes you may break the rules

SLIDE 14Design Basics: BrailleNote: A Unicode Braille font is used on this page and may not be read as expected on all screen readers.

Font Size: 24 point (Swell freeware font)o No color, bold, italics availableo Monospace (wide), no kerning

Different Writing conventionso Capital symbol ( .)o Capital N = ⠄⠝ vs. Lowercase n = ⠝o NASA = ⠄⠄⠝⠁⠎⠁

Mandatory Number symbol (⠼) Braille #o 2017 = ⠼⠃⠚⠁⠛(Braille #2017)

SLIDE 15Labels

Make sure the top is labelledo A Braille title can worko Helps with vertical vs. horizontal orientationo Or add a mark at the corner?

Labels to Diagram Partso Connect with solid line

But sometimes dashed if many other shapes in the diagram

o At least 1/8 inch padding between items Arrows – Avoid solid tip (i.e. use à) arrow with line tip

SLIDE 16Two Maps of AfricaWhich details do you need? (Map by Eric Gaba & Wikipedia user Bobarino. Licensed by Creative Commons )

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Simplify Details: Vocal FoldsOriginal image from 1918 edition Gray’s Anatomy via Wikipedia

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Thicker LinesBut not thicker shapes (Source: Slonin-Novo & Novo 2009)

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Color = Texture(but only 5-6 colors max) Source: DOE/EIA

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Color World MapAgriculture Change in 2080 (Source: UNEP/JLIFAD)

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More TextureAgriculture Change in 2080, ANZAC only

SLIDE 22Skip the Color

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Split out InformationEast Africa Rift Valley(s) (Source: USGS)

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Multiple MapsLocation, volcanoes

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Still More MapsTectonic Plates, Lakes

SLIDE 26Lines

Choose straight lines over curvedo Use curved lines only when necessary (e.g. state border)o Replace curve with sharp corners

Not always – hollow circle better than hollow square Label lead lines

o connect to line in graphic But make sure it’s not confused with the graphic

Thicknesso Major = 6 pt (this may be too thick)

2-4 points for swell with rare exceptions Arrow heads

o Use > with 60° angle (like equilateral triange)

SLIDE 27Design Tips

Feel your tactiles Swell printers are finicky

o Two printers of the same model in 2 locationso We use different settings

Check with your studentso Some may be shy

Add text based descriptions/tables/listso Insert text based key

SLIDE 28Non-Tactile Tricks

Why?o Digital text always most robusto Usually faster also

Some flow charts are lists Use a table instead of a chart/regional map data set Just convert it to text

o Complex accounting tables…I’m talking to you.

SLIDE 29Concept Map or….

SLIDE 30An outline list?

1. Teaching Philosophy 2. Courses Taught (can include course descriptions and syllabi) 3. Teaching Awards and Publications 4. Teaching with Technology Samples

a. Teaching Philosophy in relation to technology b. Links to discipline or course-related links. c.List of technologies usedd. Samples

i. Course in which it was used ii. Teaching goal of the sample iii. Screen captures or actual document (graphics, audio,

video, Powerpoint) iv. Reflections on how technologies worked

SLIDE 31

Even this Flowchart (source: File by Wikipedia user Wapcaplet)

SLIDE 32Text based version

Lamp doesn’t work. o Check: Lamp plugged in?

No: Plug in lamp (end chart if lamp works) Yes: Go to next step

o Check: Bulb burned out? Yes: Replace bulb (end chart if lamp works) No: Go to next step

o Repair lamp (end chart)

SLIDE 33

Pie Chart = TableSlavic Languages in U.S. (Data: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009-2013)

SLIDE 34Data Table for Slavic LanguagesLanguage Numbers Percentag

eRussian 879,434 43.02%Polish 580,153 28.38%Serbo-Croatian languages

267,979 13.11%

Bielorussian (sic) 1,805 0.09%Ukrainian 152,325 7.45%Czech 47,385 2.32%Slovak 27,930 1.37%Bulgarian 57,785 2.83%Macedonian 22,885 1.12%Slovene 6,370 0.31%Total 2,044,05

1100.00%

SLIDE 35

Detroit final /r/ deletion Chart & Table for Percent Final /r/ in Detroit African American Population, Female vs. MaleSource: Trudgill 1995 (69-70)

Upper Mid Lower Mid Upper Work Lower Work0

102030405060708090

100

Percent Final /r/ in Detroit African American Population

FemaleMale

Social Class

Perc

enta

ge /r

/

Gender Upper Middle

Lower Middle

Upper Working

Lower Working

Female 90 % /r/ 70% 44.20% 31.70%Male 66.7 % /r/ 52.50% 20% 25%

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Also a tableVowel “Triangle” Chart (Image from MIT Open Courseware)

Note: Some cells contain alternative descriptions for screen readersHeight/Backness

Front Central Back

Close (High) i ɨ (barred i) uClose-Mid e ʌ (carat) oOpen-Mid ɛ (open e) ə (schwa) ɔ (open o)Open (Low) æ (ash) a ɑ (hand a)

SLIDE 37Base Tactile also

SLIDE 38Long DescriptionUkraine Language Map

ALT=Map of %age of Ukrainian speakers by district. Crimea is only 10% Ukrainian and about 90% Russian. Eastern Ukraine is 50% or less Ukrainian. The west is 80-90% Ukrainian

SLIDE 39Long Description: Bilingual Signs“Font Size Matters”

Sign says Merci d'avoir choisi le magasin Walmart de Montréal, then Thank you for choosing your Montreal Walmart in much smaller type. Exit sign says “Sortie”.Source: FlickrUser MPD016505 Licensed by CC

SLIDE 40Even Longer DescriptionOld English Wikipedia

SLIDE 41OCR (Optical Character Recognition) is a must in some cases

Softwareo OmniPage, ReadIris, Fine Reader…o May need different options for non-English text

Onlineo Sensus Access (subscription based)o Google API (free, but semi decent)

SLIDE 42Challenge: Map with Campus LocationsCampus Location Accessibility Options

SLIDE 43

Add Locations as text menu

SLIDE 44Links!

Braille Assn of North America (BANA) http://brailleauthority.org/tg/web-manual/

Perkins Scout Tactile Links http://www.perkinselearning.org/scout/tactile-graphics-students-who-are-blind-or-visually-impaired

SLIDE 45Grow!

Knit design by Gypsy Studios (Etsy)