Developing a multimodal map for adults
(upbeat music)
LISANNE: Hello everyone, welcome to our presentation. We will present you the development of a prototype for a multimodal map for adults and outdoor situation. On this slide you see two persons interacting with one of the maps, that was used during our field study. Where we started with A3 thermoform maps, Dedicon traditionally makes. Before we start you would like to introduce ourselves first. My name is Lisanne Aardoom, and I'm working as a product manager of Tactile Images and Real music in Dedicon in the Netherlands. Dedicon is a nonprofit organisation in the Netherlands, which makes existing texts and image accessible for people with reading disabilities. My colleague Dorine in 't Veld, product manager, tactile reading and learning at Dedicon and is an expert on explaining concepts with the help of tacticle images. First we'll talk about user tests with it where after we will explain the portable Twin vision prototype with QR codes we developed. Next slide please. So what was our motivation to develop a multimodal map for an outdoor situation? In the first months of 2019 a Tactile map was developed for an indoor situation, by the invasion team of Dedicon On this map, near-field communication chips could be applied, NFC chips. In combination with an app, these allow users to add their own recordings to the map on their mobile phone. This personalising the map. A little technical information for people who are not familiar with this technology, NFC chips are available in many sizes and shapes. On the slide, you see a thick one with a diameter of about two and a half centimetres. There are also almost flat stickers and a small and big buttons, et cetera. This slide also shows a QR code a possible alternative, QR codes can be printed, but they're also available as stickers. Most visually impaired people are familiar with them and every current mobile phone has a QR reader, whereas many current phones are not prepared for scanning NFC chips. The responses to detect a map for users could apply NFC chips were quite positive in this indoor situation. The municipality of the Hague was interested to see if this would work in an outdoor situation and sponsored a research project to find out. That's why, later in 2019, we started a project to investigate whether audio to tactile maps, has an added value for visually impaired people in an outdoor situation. Especially, we wanted to investigate whether it will be of an added value to personalise the map with own audio recordings. The research consists of two parts, the preliminary research and the field research. During the preliminary research specialists at Dedicon conducted tests with various combinations of tactile maps, chips and smartphones in order to make a grounded choice for the tacs and app to be used. This resulted in two prototypes that were tested with users in qualitative field study. In total 13 blind or visually impaired users participated in the field study. The users walked in pairs when an observer, a route through the Binnenhof and around the Hofvijer. The Binnenhof is a complex of political buildings in the city centre of the Hague, next to the Hofvijer which is a pond. A nice fun fact, the Binnenhof is among the oldest parliament buildings in the world, still in use. This route was chosen because of its varied and interesting circumstances such as the presence or absence of traffic noise, places that require attention for safety and interesting places like statues, museums and government buildings. The route was in total one to two kilometres long depending on the chosen detours of the participant. We tested with an existing A3 thermoform map with the legend... With legend of the Binnenhof day area. The map is a combination of a transference thermoform overlay on top of a high contrast image which can be seen on this slide attached to each other with a right ring binder. On this next slide, we see the register, a legend of the thermoform map on large print. This contains every abbreviations of street names and special spots such as the senate and the legend of roads, tramlines, water, compass and so on. On this slide, you can see the second map we use for the field study. This was a swell paper map on a four, four months of the area around the Hofvijer, which you can see on this slide. The map was specially made for this project. A legend on swell paper A4 was included with the map, as you can see on this slide and both maps have different skills. The one swell wallpaper and a twin vision map and have a slightly different orientation but participants had no big trouble in relating them and appreciated both maps for their own merits. The big thermoform one, but the smaller area for its details and the smaller A4 swell map for the better overview of the area, they appreciated the combination. All participants explore the maps and practise with the app reading NFC stickers before walking the roads each participant had an observer that might help if things were not clear, this observer also could assist during the walk. Afterwards, findings were discussed in a group, both maps were equipped with a chip with a pre-registered audio introduction explaining and broad outlines the content, and legends of the maps. To personalise the maps, users could add tags before and during the walk of the roads for this we collaborated with the company Speech Label. Speech Label has developed an app in which you can make speech labels using QR stickers, and or NFC chips, on this slide you can see a user touching the swell paper map with his left hand and reading a tech on the same map by using his mobile phone with his right hand. Because of the small number of participants we cannot generalise the results to the total group but we can say something about what a such a product has an added value for the participants. The results of this research showed that tactile maps are very useful when preparing a memorising routes beforehand and especially in gaining insight into the environment and understanding things like, what lies where in relation to what? What other routes are possible? What is behind this facade or building? This increases both independency and easier communication with sighted people. But the resources, both the maps and the app turned out not to be ideal for use on the road or outside. Firstly users already had their hands full with their cane and our dog. Secondly, as can be seen on the picture someone has to hold a map while the user identifies and tech with one hand, and using the other hand to scan the tech with his phone. Thirdly the size of the map was not practical to easily transport in a bag. And finally sticking chips on a map is not easy while you're on the roads, especially with cold weather and when there's no, to sit down. But these practical obstacles were not the only reason why participants said they would not use the app and the stickers, this research also showed that there's no strong needs to personalise the map by adding own audio spoken or as text to speech for daily use. We also found what participants would appreciate. Firstly, adding general information in the audio to the map and legend is useful according to the participants, it makes reading and interpreting a map way easier, especially as preparation to explore the map, important is that the audio can be paused and repeated at will. Secondly, personalising information would be nice for touristic maps as a kind of souvenir. For example, sounds in the environment like the noise of a fountain, as shown in a picture on the presence sheet or a street Oregon or seagulls. These sounds can also help with orientation. We also gain insight in the diverse needs of the different users during this research. we will discuss now two determining factors. So, the first one is inclusion, by means of social interaction and cultural participation, users have to desire to take a pleasant and interesting walk. I want to be able to talk about it later with sighted people hereby information in forms of image description, and cultural and art historical context is important. The second factor is independence, users have the desire to be able to walk routes independently and safely, even if roots or areas are unknown. Hereby practical information is important, such as, what is where? Can I cross safely here? Where I can cyclists come from? Is there a pharmacy? Or where is the entrance of this building? We found that in some cases participants indeed would like to add practical information, but they indicated that you can edit more quickly and easier in a navigation app and look it up on the spot itself. And so the technology this research also showed that QR technology is established among the target group, and can we use with all mobile phones with camera. This is not yet the case for NFC technology, and there are major differences between different devices. Moreover, unlike we had hoped and expected in practise it turned out that for the time being, NFC chips cannot be placed to each other than QR code can. A third reason to prefer QR codes at the moment for Dedicon is that they can be printed, and don't have to be pasted manually on the map. Now Dorine will take over and present the prototype, We have developed
DORINE: The municipality of the Hague based on our findings received a prototype of what touristic maps for blind visitors could look like. The map does contain stops for buses and tramways, pedestrian crossings, places with vegetation for the dog and other practical information. And the description will warn that there is no fence between the Boulevard and the ponds but we also learned that visitors with limited mobility skills will visit together with a sighted person. We used swell paper on A4 in the form of an A4 booklet that fits in any backpack and in most bags. It has binders on both long sides connecting three A4 swell papers. The cover containing the legend on the outside opens to the left, when opened the blank back of the cover is on the left, and now the blank back of the page that can be turned to the right is between the binders. Next slide, when the third page is opened, we see next to each other from left to right. The blank... A blank back paper, sorry. The blank back of the cover, a paper sheet the right part of the swell paper map. The paper sheet is meant primarily to prevent the swell paper drawings touching each other, when they do they rub off and makes stains on each other. It came in practical to provide information for partially sighted users or sighted assistance. It's contained to manual for the use of the map and informs the user that is this is a prototype or a blue print. Next slide. When we turned the paper page, we see from left to right, a paper sheets, explain with the QR codes and points of interest on black printing. The total swell paper, math divided by one with the binders. We said, we made a twin vision map. Actually this term is used for our thermoform maps, combining really early F and black prints with colours. It is inclusive as it can be used by all. We can regalize this in swell paper too, in order to prevent the QR codes from swelling, one can print them in another colour. The QR code on the cover leads to a website with information about the map, what is on it? The most important buildings have a QR code leading to more information, there are routes describing from building to building. The fingers are guided through the map, every now and then there is a point of interest, mostly a statue. If the reader chooses he can click on links for more information and the description. The points of interest are very clearly distinguishable, they are small open routes. They have a number that scientist users can read, the paper sheet gives the corresponding name. Next sheet. The map contains six buildings that can be visited, they have their own QR codes, clearly recognisable by their shape, equal squares with braille number one to six and wide enough a box to scan them individually. Each QR codes leads to a page describing the facade of the building, the history of, and knowledgeable facts about the building. The idea is that municipalities add further details or links to information. For example, what makes it worthwhile for a blind partial or blind... For a blind or partially sighted person to visit the building. Are there things she can touch? Where are the entrance and the reception and how can the blind visitor find this? Is there resistance? Is a tactile plan of the floors available? Where can the visitor obtain or find it? Is there a Marquette? Next slide. You see astounding total of the prototype, the idea is to populate the site with information that can be important, and is kept up to date by the municipality and all individual organisations. This we didn't work out fully that would be another project, but we have a great blueprints for a definitive version, it'll be nice to use UV print for this map, but swell paper will do so it is affordable. We thank you for watching this video and please feel free to contact us if you have any questions. Our details are on the Congress website and on this slide. Dorineintveld with a D at the end, @dedicon.nl, and lisanneaardoom@dedicon.nl. (upbeat music)