Kernkonzepte
TADA is an interactive system that enables blind and low-vision people to access node-link diagrams through touch, audio, and speech interactions, preserving the spatial relationships of the diagram.
Zusammenfassung
The researchers conducted a formative interview study with 15 blind and low-vision participants to understand their challenges and strategies for accessing diagrams. They found that lack of accessibility is a frequent issue, and existing solutions such as alt-text or asking sighted people for help are often insufficient or costly in terms of time, effort, and social capital.
To address this, the researchers designed TADA, a tablet-based interactive system that allows blind and low-vision users to access node-link diagrams through a range of techniques:
- Single-finger Sweep: Sweeping a finger across the screen plays discrete sounds for nodes and links, enabling quick overviews and exploration.
- Five-finger Dome: Placing all five fingers on the screen plays an audio sequence of nodes and links within the domed area, allowing users to perceive connection patterns.
- Dwell+Tap: Dwelling on a node or link and tapping with a second finger reads out the name and attributes of the object.
- Dwell+Circle: Dwelling on a node and circling a second finger around it plays tones to indicate the directions of connected links.
- Dwell+Radiate: After finding a link, moving the second finger away from the origin node plays a fanfare sound when reaching the connected node, enabling navigation.
- Searching and Filtering: Users can search for specific nodes or links and filter the diagram by attributes using speech commands.
The researchers evaluated TADA with 25 participants and found it useful for gaining different perspectives on diagrammatic information.