Chandni Rajendran
Tactile graphics play an important role in the education of children with visual impairments. Developments in production technology are making tactile graphics (TGs) more affordable, but specialized hardware for interactivity is usually unaffordable for many students.
This design project uses an inexpensive webcam or a camera phone to make TGs interactive. A camera is mounted at a fixed height above the TG and the forefinger of the dominant hand is marked with a blue colored sticker/sleeve. As a user explores the TG with their hands, the marked finger’s motion is tracked, and used to interact with the voice system.
Basic content primitives and interactions are designed based on the unique constraints and affordances of this novel interactive medium, which serve as building blocks for more complex content such as worksheets and games. Usability of the medium is studied using simple tasks designed to demonstrate the possibilities.
Many examples of assistive technology developed in the past have been found to be useful for a broader audience as well. Similarly, this medium of interaction could be developed to aid the learning experience for sighted children, and for children with learning disabilities.