OTASCE Map: A Mobile Map Tool with Customizable Audio-Tactile Cues for the Visually Impaired

Editor's Notes

• #2: Hello everyone. Thank you all very much for coming today. My name is Masaki Matsuo. I’d like to talk to you about OTASCE Map: a mobile map tool with customizable audio-Tactile cues for the visually impaired.
• #3: This slide shows abstract of our study. We designed this audio-tactile map viewer for presenting routes to the visually impaired using customizable audio-tactile effects. We named our map viewer OTASCE map for Oto-Tactile scape map. Otasce means "help" in Japanese. We conducted a workshop test combination of audio-tactile effects using OTASCE map. As a result we found that the preferred combination of audio-tactile stimuli varies depending on the degree of a user's disability: blind users tended to prefer a combination of two or more kinds of cues while low vision users preferred to use only a single cue.
• #4: This is a brief outline of my presentation. First, I would like to talk about the Background and objective of this study. Second, I would like to discuss design of Otasce map. Third, I would like to talk about the evaluation of Otasce map. And finally, Conclude and talk briefly about future plans. First, I’d like to start with some background information.
• #5: Navigation methods for the visually impaired can be broadly divided into three categories. The first is Turn-by-turn navigation. The second is Orientation in relation to points of interest near the starting point or destination of the route. The third is learning routes before going out.
• #6: Examples of Various Navigational Aids: NavCog is an indoor navigation system that enables users to walk easily to a destination in a building using audio information. BlindSquare is Orientation information system. This app delivers detailed points of interest (POIS) and intersections using voice and sound effects.
• #7: Examples of Route Learning Systems: Many methods for conveying terrain information to the visually impaired have used either sound or tactile information. Tactile maps present graphic information using raised surfaces. The AR tactile map recognizes the movement of the fingertip on the map and informs the information of the touched location through speech. Space saving is possible because braille is not used, and more information can be stored than regular tactile maps.
• #8: The problems is Few map applications feature flexible and customizable kinds of audio and tactile stimuli. In addition, Few smartphone applications represent route information from the starting point to the destination through tactile information.
• #9: Therefore, We sought to discover the most useful combinations of audio and tactile cues for blind and visually impaired people. First, we developing an audio and tactile map viewer that can represent real-world route information and POI near the route. and we improved the viewer with customizable audio-tactile cues based on feedback from test users at workshop. We expect this app to be used for learning routes before going out.
• #10: Next, I'd like to talk about design of the audio-tactile map viewer.
• #11: The OTASCE map viewer presents 2D figures like maps using auditory and tactile stimuli. The difference from the previous study is that audio haptic cues can be customized and available on general-purpose devices. The viewer is implemented on an iPhone.
• #12: Watch a video showing how to use the OTASCE map. The mouse icon indicates the user's finger. The user is touching the screen. This sound indicates the route. This sound indicates the POI. The user is tracing a route from the starting point to the destination.
• #13: The user is given cues about the route and points of interest (POIs) as they touch the map on the screen. The user can customize the audio-tactile effects with different combinations of sound effects, voice cues, and vibration patterns. The effects convey information about points and lines on the displayed map.
• #14: As shown in the previous video, the user can use two types of operating functions. The first is Free-touch function. The user can touch routes and POI freely. The second is Route-guidance function. This function presents the user's upcoming direction of travel on the route by guiding their finger to the starting point, stating the direction to turn at each branch points, and finally guiding the finger to the destination. The user can preview the route from the starting point to the destination.
• #15: Let’s continue and move on to the workshop.
• #16: We conducted a test combination of audio-tactile effects with visually impaired people using OTASCE Map. First, we asked participants to touch and trace a route in OTASCE Map. Then we asked participants to repeatedly adjust and check audio-tactile effects corresponding to various objects on the map. Subsequently, we asked participants to discuss their preferred combinations of audio-tactile cues. Finally, they answered surveys about usability.
• #17: This slide shows screenshots of the map viewer app. This screen shot of the left side shows the settings menu screen. This menu is compatible with Voiceover features included in iOS. Also, the right side shows the Audio-tactile map. After customizing the effects, users can test the audio-tactile presentation by touching the map.
• #18: As shown slide on the five participants (3 blind and 2 people with low vision) participated in the workshop. Except for one blind person, all participants had experience in using map and navigation applications while walking outside.
• #19: This is an example Video of customized results by blind participants. 3 blind participants preferd a combination of two or more effects, including sound effects, voice cues, and vibrations. All the blind participants were accustomed to distinguishing sound effects.
• #20: This is an example Video of customized results by low vision participants with low vision tended to select only a single type of cue; one selected voice while the other selected vibration. Participants with low vision were not accustomed to detecting differences in sounds.
• #21: We created two types of audio-tactile patterns designed based on the results of the workshops. First is voice + vibration for low vision users Second is voice + vibration + sound effect for blind users
• #22: Let me summarize the point of my presentation. We designed the OTASCE Map viewer for presenting maps and routes to visually impaired people using customizable audio-tactile effects. From a workshop we found that the preferred combination of audio-tactile stimuli varies depending on the degree of a user's disability: blind users tend to prefer a combination of two or more kinds of cues while low vision users preferred to use only a single cue. This app is expected to be used to learn routes before going out and to help the users grasp surrounding POI.
• #23: In the future, We plan to evaluate two types of audio-tactile patterns quantitatively with a larger study. Therefore, we will create a tutorial mode to teach users how to operate the map viewer efficiently. To this end, we plan to publish OTASCE Map apps. In addition, we are currently developing a prototype mapping tool that creates 2D maps in the real-world. our goal is to develop an audio-tactile mapping tool that will allow blind people to grasp, modify, and create 2D figures.
• #24: Please check the Twitter for the OTASK Map release announcement. Thank you all very much for listening. I would like to close my presentation.