scholarly journals Toward Accessible Hazard Mapping: Tactile Risk Maps and Disaster Preparedness

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
Harrison Cole
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Management ◽  
Visual Impairment ◽  
Natural Hazards ◽  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
Spatial Information ◽  
Visual Impairments ◽  
Hazard Mapping ◽  
Risk Maps ◽  
Risk Visualization ◽  
Tactile Maps

<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> The near future of our planet under climate change is predicted to be characterized by increasingly frequent and severe natural hazards of all kinds. Understanding the potential spatial extent and impacts of these hazards is a critical component of creating effective emergency management plans, not just on the part of emergency managers and relief organizations, but also for those who may reside in areas vulnerable to disaster. Often, information about disaster risk is communicated using maps, such as in the case of storm surge maps, evacuation zone maps or wildfire extent maps. While generally helpful, these maps are of limited use to those with low vision or blindness, and the information is rarely, if ever, distributed in accessible formats. Furthermore, in contrast to wayfinding maps, this type of information does not lend itself to being translated into a set of instructions to be read aloud by a test-to-speech device. Instead, risk maps are useful because they allow users to identify and assess spatial relationships between many features on the maps- a key process that would be muddled if the maps were to be verbally described, and thus a process that is currently inaccessible to those who cannot see the maps. As people with visual impairments are especially vulnerable in disaster scenarios, working towards the universal accessibility of spatial information is imperative for inclusive disaster preparedness and hazard mitigation.</p><p>Many challenges exist in creating maps for people with visual impairments. The most obvious is the fact that a visual medium cannot be used by someone who is unable to see. It is important to note that “visual impairment” covers a broad spectrum of conditions from pronounced myopia to complete blindness. Here, I will be limiting my topical scope to people with total or near-total blindness. Tactile maps are the tool of choice for this population. However, it is generally harder to distinguish between similar patterns using touch than using sight, so features on a tactile map need to be unique and unambiguous. This makes it more challenging to communicate information typically represented using color gradients or transparency. Additionally, distributing spatial information in tactile form poses another layer of complications. There are several options for creating tactile maps, from embossed paper to 3D printing, and each come with their own advantages and drawbacks. Cost, speed and detail all vary among these media, and thus each potentially impact the user’s perception of risk.</p><p> In my talk, I will be examining these challenges as they intersect with research on cartographic risk visualization, emergency management, and tactile maps in general. First, I will briefly discuss the state of risk visualization in the context of emergency management, focusing on preparedness. Then, I will give a general overview of the extant research on tactile maps with particular attention paid to their influence on spatial cognition. Next, I will examine how the considerations particular to risk map creation are affected by the potentials and limitations of tactile maps. Finally, I will outline a research agenda for creating and distributing accessible maps for emergency management. Using visual impairment and tactile maps as starting points, I will identify further aspects of emergency management that urgently require greater attention to accessibility, and how cartographic research and technology can help bridge those gaps.</p><p> Planning for natural hazards is an essential step in mitigating their impacts on communities, and that process includes individual citizens making their own plans for evacuation, finding shelter or securing food, water or medicine. This is especially important for people with disabilities, as resources deployed after a disaster may fail to accommodate their particular needs, and processes such as evacuating a building or house can take substantially longer than average. Planning for these scenarios is made all the more difficult for people with visual impairments, as conventional maps are unhelpful, and environmental awareness is limited. Thus, empowering people with visual impairments to make emergency plans for themselves and contribute to planning for their community as a whole can help build autonomy and self-confidence and ultimately ensure that disaster plans truly account for everyone.</p>

Differences in Spatial Knowledge of Individuals With Blindness When Using Audiotactile Maps, Using Tactile Maps, and Walking

2018 ◽  
Vol 84 (3) ◽  
pp. 330-343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Konstantinos Papadopoulos ◽  
Marialena Barouti ◽  
Eleni Koustriava
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Information ◽  
Visual Impairments ◽  
Cognitive Maps ◽  
Cognitive Map ◽  
Spatial Knowledge ◽  
Spatial Coding ◽  
Direct Experience ◽  
Tactile Maps ◽  
Experimental Trials ◽  
Blind Individuals

To examine how individuals with visual impairments understand space and the way they develop cognitive maps, we studied the differences in cognitive maps resulting from different methods and tools for spatial coding in large geographical spaces. We examined the ability of 21 blind individuals to create cognitive maps of routes in unfamiliar areas using (a) audiotactile maps, (b) tactile maps, and (c) direct experience of movement along the routes. We also compared participants’ cognitive maps created with the use of audiotactile maps, tactile maps, and independent movement along the routes with regard to their precision (i.e., the correctness or incorrectness of spatial information location) and inclusiveness (i.e., the amount of spatial information included correctly in the cognitive map). The results of the experimental trials demonstrated that becoming familiar with an area is easier for blind individuals when they use a tactile aide, such as an audiotactile map, as compared with walking along the route.

scholarly journals Tactile maps – Finnish O&M instructors’ experiences on usability and accessibility

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 313-321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stina Ojala ◽  
Riitta Lahtinen ◽  
Helinä Hirn
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Visual Impairment ◽  
Electronic Mail ◽  
Spatial Information ◽  
Survey Questionnaire ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Independent Travel ◽  
Tactile Maps ◽  
Consistent Information

For a person with a visual impairment, the quality of life means independence and equality with the sighted people. For this, independent travel and navigation is essential. Orientation within different types of environments is a challenge and tactile maps are key elements for this. It can also be used for learning about new routes independently. A tactile map is an image of spatial information and figure that uses raised lines and surfaces when introducing a certain area in 3D form. For a public tactile map to be useful, it has to contain consistent information for the user. In this study we present results from a survey for the orientation and mobility (O&M) instructors of Finland about usability and ideas for improvement concerning public tactile maps. We sent the survey questionnaire for 30 O&M instructors by electronic mail and there was also a possibility to answer by paper. Altogether we received 24 answers. The main finding was that most of the O&M instructors did not use public tactile maps during the sessions.

scholarly journals The Specifics of Cartographic Semiology in Tactile Maps

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 1-2
Author(s):  
Alena Vondrakova ◽  
Radek Barvir ◽  
Jan Brus
Keyword(s):  
Visual Impairment ◽  
Spatial Information ◽  
Mobile Technologies ◽  
Blind People ◽  
Target User ◽  
Map Symbol ◽  
Tactile Maps ◽  
Blind Persons ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> Spatial information became ordinary for everyday life, for example in different kinds of maps. The majority of maps are produced for reading with eyes. Nevertheless, people with visual impairment, including blind people, perceive the world differently and have an insufficient amount of possible ways how to investigate the surroundings.</p><p>Creating a tactile map for people with visual impairment and blind people is conceptually different, more expensive and more difficult comparing to normal maps. This is why researches in cartography focus the question how spatial information can be effectively presented to visually impaired people using modern technologies.</p><p>One of the solutions seems to be progress in modern 3D tactile-cartography linkable to the mobile device, such as smartphones and tablets. The modern mobile technologies with the internet connection and GNSS navigation brought new possibilities how to convert spatial information into voice quickly. Navigations use vibrations to provide the actual information, and other technologies help to make the 3D presentations of the geospace more accessible.</p><p>At the Department of Geoinformatics, Faculty of Science, Palacký University Olomouc, Czechia, several tactile maps were produced under the leadership of Vit Vozenilek, both interactive and non-interactive ones.</p><p>Cartographic semiology deals with a theory of cartographic symbols and their use. This theory is based primarily on the general semiology (the science of symbols), theoretical cartography, information theory, cybernetics and engineering psychology. To the various disciplines of semiology belong semantics, which represents the relation between the map symbol to the content what it means, sigmatics, which defines the relationship of map symbols to the function expressed in terms of real content, syntactic, which describes the interactions of map symbols, grammar, that deals with the composition rule and specifies the map symbol to the system, and pragmatics, which describes the relationship of users to the map symbol system. It is necessary to design and apply specific methods of cartographic visualization that will be suitable for persons who are blind or have a serious visual impairment. Therefore, there is a significant need for adaptation to the target user needs.</p><p>Analogically to the traditional cartography, the fundamental unit of tactile cartographic semiology is a tactile map symbol. Comparing to conventional map symbol the tactile map symbols have an extra specific 3D features, including the vertical dimension, roughness and texture. The specific design of the tactile map symbol depends on the applied technology – special tactile paper printers, plastic foils, metal engravings or modern type of 3D printing technology. Characteristics of tactile map symbols are used with regard to the possibilities of these technologies as well as in relation to the needs of the target group of users.</p><p>Within the project <i>Perception of the geospace by the modern type of tactile maps</i> the sampler designed characters by 51 respondents (31 blind persons and 20 persons with hard visually impairments) was tested. There were examples of different lines, different textures and point map symbols (Fig. 3). Part of these symbols was identified by respondents as most satisfactory, some of the characters were identified as unsatisfactory. These were mainly badly recognisable structures, lines unrecognisable by touch, confusing dotting, etc.</p><p>During the implementation of the project <i>Development of independent movement through tactile-auditory aids</i>, the gained knowledge was applied to the production of modern, tactile maps linked to the mobile technology (smartphone, tablet, etc.). Because the modern tactile maps using TouchIt3D technology (Barvir, 2017; Barvir et al., 2018) require many different sizes of 3D map objects, also the map symbols have to be different.</p><p>Preliminary results of the user testing provide new information about map symbol perception by people with visual impairment, using a new type of 3D tactile maps created with TouchIt3D technology. Testing and prototyping are ongoing, and the conference contribution will bring the latest research results.</p></p>

The Association Between Presenting Visual Impairment, Health, and Employment Status

2021 ◽  
Vol 115 (3) ◽  
pp. 204-214
Author(s):  
Michele C. McDonnall ◽  
Zhen S. McKnight
Keyword(s):  
Visual Impairment ◽  
Labor Force ◽  
Visual Impairments ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Health And Nutrition ◽  
Labor Force Status ◽  
The People ◽  
Self Reports ◽  
Study Participants

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of visual impairment and correctable visual impairment (i.e., uncorrected refractive errors) on being out of the labor force and on unemployment. The effect of health on labor force status was also investigated. Method: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 1999 to 2008 ( N = 15,650) was used for this study. Participants were classified into three vision status groups: normal, correctable visual impairment, and visual impairment. Statistical analyses utilized were chi-square and logistic regression. Results: Having a visual impairment was significantly associated with being out of the labor force, while having a correctable visual impairment was not. Conversely, having a correctable visual impairment was associated with unemployment, while having a visual impairment was not. Being out of the labor force was not significantly associated with health for those with a visual impairment, although it was for those with correctable visual impairments and normal vision. Discussion: Given previous research, it was surprising to find that health was not associated with being out of the labor force for those with visual impairments. Perhaps other disadvantages for the people with visual impairments identified in this study contributed to their higher out-of-the-labor-force rates regardless of health. Implications for practitioners: Researchers utilizing national data sets that rely on self-reports to identify visual impairments should realize that some of those who self-identify as being visually impaired may actually have correctable visual impairments. Current research is needed to understand why a majority of people with visual impairments are not seeking employment and have removed themselves from the labor force.

Using Labels: A Study of Client Preference

1990 ◽  
Vol 84 (5) ◽  
pp. 218-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Abaglo ◽  
J. Downing
Keyword(s):  
Visual Impairment ◽  
Visual Impairments ◽  
Handicapped Person ◽  
Significant Preference ◽  
Client Preference ◽  
Adolescents And Adults ◽  
Visually Handicapped

Fifty-one adolescents and adults with a variety of visual impairments were interviewed to determine their preference for different labels used to describe them. Participants were asked to choose among labels that state the disability before the person (“the visually handicapped person”) and labels that state the person before the disability (“the person with a visual impairment”). Results showed no statistically significant preference. Reasons provided by participants for their preference were characterized and presented thematically. The importance of stressing abilities and needs to be treated as normal were the most common reasons given by the participants for their selections. Participants who chose the person-first labels cited these reasons more often than those who chose the disability-first labels.

scholarly journals Cognitive map formation through haptic and visual exploration of tactile city-like maps

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Loes Ottink ◽  
Marit Hoogendonk ◽  
Christian F. Doeller ◽  
Thea M. Van der Geest ◽  
Richard J. A. Van Wezel
Keyword(s):  
Visual Information ◽  
Spatial Information ◽  
Cognitive Map ◽  
Visual Exploration ◽  
Distinct Advantage ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Map Learning ◽  
Scale Models ◽  
Spatial Tasks ◽  
Tactile Maps

AbstractIn this study, we compared cognitive map formation of small-scale models of city-like environments presented in visual or tactile/haptic modalities. Previous research often addresses only a limited amount of cognitive map aspects. We wanted to combine several of these aspects to elucidate a more complete view. Therefore, we assessed different types of spatial information, and consider egocentric as well as allocentric perspectives. Furthermore, we compared haptic map learning with visual map learning. In total 18 sighted participants (9 in a haptic condition, 9 visuo-haptic) learned three tactile maps of city-like environments. The maps differed in complexity, and had five marked locations associated with unique items. Participants estimated distances between item pairs, rebuilt the map, recalled locations, and navigated two routes, after learning each map. All participants overall performed well on the spatial tasks. Interestingly, only on the complex maps, participants performed worse in the haptic condition than the visuo-haptic, suggesting no distinct advantage of vision on the simple map. These results support ideas of modality-independent representations of space. Although it is less clear on the more complex maps, our findings indicate that participants using only haptic or a combination of haptic and visual information both form a quite accurate cognitive map of a simple tactile city-like map.

School-Based Education Programs for Preparing Children for Natural Hazards: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Hamed Seddighi ◽  
Homeira Sajjadi ◽  
Sepideh Yousefzadeh ◽  
Mónica López López ◽  
Meroe Vameghi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Natural Hazards ◽  
Emergency Preparedness ◽  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
English Language ◽  
Education Programs ◽  
School Based ◽  
Disaster Education ◽  
The Difference ◽  
And Gender

Abstract Schools have a significant role in disaster education to children. This study investigates the research works about school-based education programs in order to discover challenges and best practices. We conducted a systematic review of English language papers published in peer-review journals. The search identified 2577 publications and 61 articles meeting selection criteria and included in the review. Reviewed studies indicated that disaster education in schools is effective but yet insufficient in many countries. Lack of equipment, financial resources, policy gaps, and teachers’ knowledge are common problems in programs. Main outcomes of this systematic review are showing methods used for health emergency preparedness of children of different ages and gender differences in school-based disaster preparedness, as well as the difference in their lifesaving skills in disasters. This study shows that some disaster education programs reported in the papers reviewed were not high-quality enough, which may lead to insufficient preparedness of children in disasters and consequently may put their health at risk, considering the increasing number of natural hazards.

Effects of a Disability Simulation Activity on the Achievement, Efficacy, Attitudes, and Interests of Preservice Professionals

2021 ◽  
pp. 0145482X2110466
Author(s):  
Alexandra Hollo ◽  
Carla B. Brigandi ◽  
Casey M. Jelsema ◽  
Mingming Shi
Keyword(s):  
Visual Impairment ◽  
Skill Acquisition ◽  
Professional Education ◽  
Low Vision ◽  
Visual Impairments ◽  
Cluster Randomized Trial ◽  
Single Class ◽  
Related Services ◽  
Disability Simulation ◽  
Experimental Group

Introduction: Disability simulation activities are commonly used for various purposes in higher education; however, instructors may be unaware of controversies regarding their use. The purpose of this research was to assess the effects of an activity using low vision goggles to simulate visual impairment in the context of an undergraduate course in special education. We highlight the need for instructors to consider the appropriateness of disability simulation activities given possible countertherapeutic effects. Methods: In this cluster-randomized trial, 11 classes (248 students) of preservice education and related services professionals were randomized to experimental (lecture + simulation) or control (lecture only) conditions. During a single class session, all students received basic information about visual impairment and watched a video on being a human guide. Students in the experimental group then practiced guiding and being guided while wearing low vision goggles. At the end of class, students completed three Likert-type surveys and later completed a quiz using publisher-developed materials. Results: Results showed individuals in the experimental group reported higher levels of interest and enjoyment than those in the control condition; however, there were no statistically significant differences in attitudes toward persons with visual impairments, confidence or self-efficacy for working with students with visual impairments, content knowledge, or perceptions of activity usefulness. Discussion: Findings of positive engagement in the absence of harmful effects indicate that disability simulation activities should be neither promoted nor denigrated wholesale; instead, instructors must weigh carefully potential benefits and drawbacks. Discussion includes considerations for professional education programs in using such simulations to promote skill acquisition via positive and respectful learning experiences. Implications for practitioners: Instructors who use disability simulation activities are encouraged to consider whether to discontinue this practice or incorporate principles recommended by the disability community and assess outcomes to ensure they are not perpetuating harmful stereotypes.

Behavioral Correlates of Depression Among Adults with Visual Impairments

2021 ◽  
pp. 0145482X2110466
Author(s):  
Justin A. Haegele ◽  
Xihe Zhu ◽  
Sean Healy
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Visual Impairment ◽  
Sleep Duration ◽  
Visual Impairments ◽  
The United States ◽  
Sitting Time ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Negative Predictor

Introduction: This study sought to examine: (a) the associations between physical activity, sedentary time, and sleep duration, as discrete behaviors, with depression among adults with visual impairments; and (b) the impact of meeting none, one, two, or three of the guidelines for these behaviors on depression among adults with visual impairments. Materials: One hundred eighty-two ( Mage = 44.8) adults with visual impairments, recruited via email through two visual impairment organizations in the United States, completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire–Short Form, a sleep duration question, the Major Depression Inventory, and a demographic questionnaire. Based on results from the questionnaires, dichotomous variables for meeting or not meeting physical activity, sleep, and sitting guidelines were created. Data were analyzed using three components: a descriptive analysis, Pearson product-moment correlation analyses, and hierarchical regression analyses. Results: Overall, 14.8% of participants were categorized as having some degree of depression. Meeting the sleep guideline was a significant negative predictor of depression scores in the hierarchical regression analyses. The number of guidelines met was a negative predictor for depression score controlling for other variables. Discussion: Adequate sleep, as well as meeting all three guidelines synergistically, was meaningful in influencing depression among this population. The current study’s results should prompt the continued examination of health-behaviors among adults with visual impairment using a more holistic 24-hour activity cycle framework. Implications for practitioners: This study supports the utilization of multi-behavioral interventions to reduce the risk of depression by enhancing physical activity and sleep, while reducing sitting time, among this population.

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