Joshua A. Miele, Ph.D. - US grants

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The aim of this research training project is to determine, through psychophysical experiments, optimal layout parameters for tactile street maps to be generated by an automated system ("TMAP") to assist blind and visually impaired travelers. TMAP (Tactile Maps Automated Production) was conceived by the applicant as a means of providing low-cost, on-demand tactile maps of any area of interest to an individual. It would use a web interface to harness existing computerized map databases such as that provided by the US Census Bureau, and synthesize local maps centered on any location specified by the user, for immediate printout on the user's Braille embosser (or by existing Braille embossing services). For such a system to be effective, research is needed into some of the layout and presentation parameters, to determine optimal tactile density, street line thicknesses, and label placement for this type of street map. The goal of the present project will be to conduct the necessary experiments to optimize these parameters.

[unreadable] DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Our aim is to provide a quantitative basis for improving and optimizing the non-visual, non-speech information displays used in blind-accessible instruments and devices. These multi-modal "auditory/haptic" displays are used to provide feedback in a huge array of devices, instruments and travel aids via a combination of auditory cues and physical adjustment or manipulation (e.g., a knob, slider, or touch pad). Unlike synthetic speech, these displays tend to be used whenever a rapid adjustment, searching, scanning or aiming task has to be performed in real time. Examples include everything from accessible stud finders to the aiming cues for Talking Signs(R) receivers. Although auditory/haptic displays pervade the field of blind-accessible technology, no objective data exist on performance in terms of speed, accuracy or ease of use of the different display schemes or how to optimize performance within a given scheme. Designers usually adopt a display format by happenstance, based on past use or what is easiest to implement in their hardware. Our preliminary data demonstrates that speed and accuracy of such displays differ significantly, in a non-obvious way, demonstrating the need for objective information that could significantly ease the use and increase the efficiency of assistive technology and of instruments and appliances that utilize multi-modal outputs and/or universal design. To study the problem objectively, we categorize the most common audio-haptic displays as step, spike, trough and peak types. These classifications hold whether the auditory cue is pitch, volume, repetition rate or some other variable. For each of these display classes, we will investigate the dependence of performance on display characteristic (e.g., spike width, slope, etc.), then compare the relative effectiveness of the four display types at each display's point of maximum effectiveness. We will also extend these one- dimensional findings to explore two-dimensional haptic conditions, in two sets of experiments using the best-performing auditory display classes for both radial (with only one auditory feedback parameter) and x-y (with two auditory feedback parameters, one for each spatial component). The results will enable us to publish and disseminate concrete audio-haptic display design guidelines for researchers and industry, facilitating major improvements in speed and accuracy of future technology accessibility features for blind and visually impaired citizens. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The proposed research will compare several types of audio displays commonly used in guidance devices and electronic instruments for the blind. Although such audio feedback techniques are often used, little is known regarding which ones are most effective. The results of this research are likely to yield significantly-improved travel devices and other tools used by blind and visually-impaired people through an improved understanding of how to apply audio display techniques. [unreadable] [unreadable] [unreadable]

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The proposed project will develop an innovative Internet technology - the Descriptive Video Exchange (DVX) - to facilitate research into the effectiveness of amateur video description for the blind and visually impaired. Video accessibility is a critical and growing issue in the rehabilitation of the blind and visually impaired, and has impacts in education and employment, as well as entertainment and social integration. Professional video description requires careful scripting and recording of brief voiceover segments announcing on-screen events that would otherwise be inaccessible to the blind and visually-impaired. Video description has been shown to make educational and entertainment video more effective for blind and visually-impaired viewers, but it is extremely costly and time-consuming. With the accelerated production of video materials and dwindling funding to support professional description, it is increasingly important to investigate the effectiveness and viability of a volunteer-based system of video description. DVX will provide a platform for the simple creation, sharing, viewing, and evaluation of descriptions of DVD and Internet-based video content recorded by volunteers, and evaluated by people with a wide range of visual disabilities. DVX will be the first system to tightly couple video description recording and playback tools with a server-based, description-sharing mechanism, thus making the creation and consumption of the described materials seamless for both volunteers and blind consumers. The availability of DVX will make it possible to address several important research questions about the effectiveness of using amateurs to describe video. We propose several specific research questions;however DVX opens the possibility for many more future video description studies. The present project proposes to conduct the following investigations utilizing an Internet-based survey protocol involving 50 sighted amateur describers and 200 evaluation participants with a broad range of visual disabilities: 1. Evaluate the effectiveness of amateur description for a variety of genres and video formats, in comparison to traditional, professional video description. In addition, evaluate the influence of consumer feedback on the quality of amateur description. 2. Evaluate the effectiveness of a proposed set of Enhanced Playback Functions intended to mitigate problems commonly encountered in amateur description;3. Conduct preliminary research into the use of mainstream social networking platforms (e.g., Facebook and Twitter) for the recruitment of amateur describers. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The limited accessibility of most video materials is a critical and growing issue in the rehabilitation of the blind and visually impaired, and has negative impacts on their education and employment, as well as entertainment and social integration. The proposed project will develop an innovative Internet technology - the Descriptive Video Exchange (DVX) - to facilitate research into the effectiveness of using amateur describers to boost the availability of accessible video for the blind and visually impaired. With the accelerated production of video materials and dwindling funding to support professional description, it is increasingly important to investigate the effectiveness and viability of a volunteer-based system of video description.