AltGeoViz: Facilitating Accessible Geovisualization

TL;DR

AltGeoViz is a novel system that makes geovisualizations accessible to screen-reader users by generating dynamic alt-text summaries based on map views, enhancing spatial data exploration.

Contribution

We introduce AltGeoViz, the first system to enable accessible geovisualization exploration through dynamic alt-text generation for screen-reader users.

Findings

Participants understood spatial patterns using AltGeoViz.

AltGeoViz enabled interactions previously infeasible for screen-reader users.

Identified improvements include navigation controls and comparison features.

Abstract

Geovisualizations are powerful tools for exploratory spatial analysis, enabling sighted users to discern patterns, trends, and relationships within geographic data. However, these visual tools have remained largely inaccessible to screen-reader users. We present AltGeoViz, a new system we designed to facilitate geovisualization exploration for these users. AltGeoViz dynamically generates alt-text descriptions based on the user's current map view, providing summaries of spatial patterns and descriptive statistics. In a study of five screen-reader users, we found that AltGeoViz enabled them to interact with geovisualizations in previously infeasible ways. Participants demonstrated a clear understanding of data summaries and their location context, and they could synthesize spatial understandings of their explorations. Moreover, we identified key areas for improvement, such as the addition of intuitive spatial navigation controls and comparative analysis features.