OVERVIEW
University of California at Santa Cruz
Baskin School of Engineering
Visualization Laboratory
Summer 2004
http://surf-it.soe.ucsc.edu/Projects/2004/Michele.html
As technology advances, the resources
available to the blind and visually impaired
struggle to keep up with the pace.
Graphics, now a popular and even standard
in today’s society, continue to excel with little
consideration for those unable to use them.
This concern is especially apparent with current
map reading and creation software.
Recent studies geared toward advances in mobility for the blind and visually impaired explore the prospect of extending the accessibility of maps. Currently, map education and navigation is limited to tools such as hands on maps, printed Braille maps, and audio guides. The implementation of interactive products such as touch pads and force feedback mice or joysticks provide an interactive environment where the user can ‘feel’ their way through the map.
This project aimed specifically at developing
software that allows blind
and visually impaired users to navigate
their way through a map with
the help of force feedback sensations
of a mouse and audio guides.
FINAL PRODUCTS
Poster (pdf)
HARDWARE, SOFTWARE & LANGUAGES
Logitech Force Feedback Mouse
Immersion Studio 4.1.1
Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0
Immersion Foundation Classes SDK
CLIENTS
Roberto Manduchi