Points of departure

A very short introduction to some basic principles for working with tactile images, as listed on the homepage.

'Readability'

Each technique has other (impossibilities) to create a well readable tactile images. To make a comparision: in texts readability depends on font and size of the text, and contrast. If the elements (letters, reading signs, etc.) are not well discernable, the text is unusable.

Likewise: if the elements in a tactile image are not well discriminable, the image will be difficult or impossible to read quickly and without faults. So 'readability' is of uttermost importance. (And, having much experience with how touch works, I certainly can advice on readability).

'Understandability'

However, whatever technique is used for tactile images, they need to be understandable for blind readers. In order to achieve that, a common language is needed. All parties involved - blind and partially sighted readers, designers, people explaining the tactile images - must work with the same underlying principles. These principles will help a trained reader to go from 2D to 3D, without the need of a 3D-print or model. (Actually 3D-models are only needed in the learning phase or with very complex subjects/objects).

A pleasure to use

Most important are readability and understandability, but, to make a comparison again - with visual images this time: some are very functional but may not be very well reproduced. A book or site with very beautifully reproduced images is much more of a pleasure to work with (and often reveal more details). Likewise, a tactile book in a high quality relief print on smooth paper
gives more pleasure than an image reproduced on a hard material.

Usefulness and pleasantness

In a situation where you just quickly want to get the essential information out of a tactile image to be able to understand the description - or to compensate the lack of description - usefulness may prevail over pleasantness.

In other words: if it is too expensive or if it takes too much time to make or obtain a high-quality tactile image, a simpler tactile image that meets the need is preferred. Sometimes a good tactile sketch made in a few steps may do!

Learnability

The first steps in reading tactile images can be difficult, especially for adults. Tactile images are a foreign language blind born people.

Nowadays children in most countries learn to draw and learn to understand what a drawing is, and how sight works. (Though often in education there is a lack of time and other conditions to work on this very much).

But many elder 'early visually impaired people' in school only worked with tactile images for science and topography. And many people who got (very) partially sighted or blind later in life, often think tactile images are nothing for them because they never learned at all.

In my experience however, with proper guidance, most people get enthusiastic when they read their first tactile images, saying things like: "I whish I had learned this before.", or "This opens up a whole new world for me!". Learning to read tactile images then proves not as difficult as they thought.

HandsSee organises workshops for all involved: visually impaired people, designers, and people who use tactile images to convey what needs to be understood - where we refer sighted people to an image or illustration. Being together in a workshop allows participants to better understand 'each others world'; the world of vision and the world of touch.

Guidance for the fingers

Last but not least: every tactile image should come with explanation for the fingers. This greatly helps quick and faultless exploration.

How much explanation is needed, depends on the reading experience of the reader, pre-knowledge about the subject and/or visual memory - or usable sight. When working with individuals, the person explaining can adapt the guidance to what is needed.

HandsSee worked out a modular 'touch guide' for 'explainers' or individuals who have no one to guide them. The latter must be able to skip parts (s)he doesn't need.

Some experienced readers hardly need any explanation. For them it is important that there are a few lines giving the main points.