Using Tactile Charts to Support Comprehension and Learning of Complex Visualizations for Blind and Low-Vision Individuals
Tingying He, Maggie McCracken, Daniel Hajas, Sarah Creem-Regehr, Alexander Lex

TL;DR
This study explores how tactile charts can enhance comprehension of complex visualizations for blind and low-vision individuals, demonstrating their effectiveness and user preference over traditional methods.
Contribution
The paper introduces four novel tactile chart designs for complex visualization types and evaluates their impact on mental model building in BLV users.
Findings
Tactile charts improve understanding of complex visualizations.
BLV participants prefer tactile models for learning.
Tactile templates support mental model development.
Abstract
We investigate whether tactile charts support comprehension and learning of complex visualizations for blind and low-vision (BLV) individuals and contribute four tactile chart designs and an interview study. Visualizations are powerful tools for conveying data, yet BLV individuals typically can rely only on assistive technologies -- primarily alternative texts -- to access this information. Prior research shows the importance of mental models of chart types for interpreting these descriptions, yet BLV individuals have no means to build such a mental model based on images of visualizations. Tactile charts show promise to fill this gap in supporting the process of building mental models. Yet studies on tactile data representations mostly focus on simple chart types, and it is unclear whether they are also appropriate for more complex charts as would be found in scientific publications.…
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