Logo
ScienceStack
Table of Contents
Fetching ...
Sign In

Speculating a Tactile Grammar: Toward Task-Aligned Chart Design for Non-Visual Perception

Areen Khalaila, Dylan Cashman

TL;DR

This paper proposes SenseMap, a tactile perceptual framework that shifts chart design from retrofitting visual encodings to a tactile-first approach aligned with BLV users' perceptual strategies. It defines a Task–Strategy–Encoding mapping to connect analytical goals with tactile-reading methods and encodings, grounded in empirical insights about tactile exploration. Through illustrative mockups of a COVID-19 dashboard, the authors demonstrate how tactile encodings (e.g., equal-width bars with baselines, raised lines with anchors, textured stacked bars) can better support comparison, trend detection, and proportion estimation. The work outlines design guidelines, acknowledges limitations, and sketches a path toward empirical validation, co-design, and tool development to enable broader adoption of tactile-first data visualization.

Abstract

Tactile graphics are often adapted from visual chart designs, yet many of these encodings do not translate effectively to non-visual exploration. Blind and low-vision (BLV) people employ a variety of physical strategies such as measuring lengths with fingers or scanning for texture differences to interpret tactile charts. These observations suggest an opportunity to move beyond direct visual translation and toward a tactile-first design approach. We outline a speculative tactile design framework that explores how data analysis tasks may align with tactile strategies and encoding choices. While this framework is not yet validated, it offers a lens for generating tactile-first chart designs and sets the stage for future empirical exploration. We present speculative mockups to illustrate how the Tactile Perceptual Grammar might guide the design of an accessible COVID-19 dashboard. This scenario illustrates how the grammar can guide encoding choices that better support comparison, trend detection, and proportion estimation in tactile formats. We conclude with design implications and a discussion of future validation through co-design and task-based evaluation.

Speculating a Tactile Grammar: Toward Task-Aligned Chart Design for Non-Visual Perception

TL;DR

This paper proposes SenseMap, a tactile perceptual framework that shifts chart design from retrofitting visual encodings to a tactile-first approach aligned with BLV users' perceptual strategies. It defines a Task–Strategy–Encoding mapping to connect analytical goals with tactile-reading methods and encodings, grounded in empirical insights about tactile exploration. Through illustrative mockups of a COVID-19 dashboard, the authors demonstrate how tactile encodings (e.g., equal-width bars with baselines, raised lines with anchors, textured stacked bars) can better support comparison, trend detection, and proportion estimation. The work outlines design guidelines, acknowledges limitations, and sketches a path toward empirical validation, co-design, and tool development to enable broader adoption of tactile-first data visualization.

Abstract

Tactile graphics are often adapted from visual chart designs, yet many of these encodings do not translate effectively to non-visual exploration. Blind and low-vision (BLV) people employ a variety of physical strategies such as measuring lengths with fingers or scanning for texture differences to interpret tactile charts. These observations suggest an opportunity to move beyond direct visual translation and toward a tactile-first design approach. We outline a speculative tactile design framework that explores how data analysis tasks may align with tactile strategies and encoding choices. While this framework is not yet validated, it offers a lens for generating tactile-first chart designs and sets the stage for future empirical exploration. We present speculative mockups to illustrate how the Tactile Perceptual Grammar might guide the design of an accessible COVID-19 dashboard. This scenario illustrates how the grammar can guide encoding choices that better support comparison, trend detection, and proportion estimation in tactile formats. We conclude with design implications and a discussion of future validation through co-design and task-based evaluation.
Paper Structure (13 sections, 1 figure, 1 table)

This paper contains 13 sections, 1 figure, 1 table.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Background and Related Work
  3. Tactile Perception and Exploration
  4. Task-Driven Design
  5. Tactile Perceptual Framework
  6. Illustrative Scenario: Public Health Dashboard
  7. Infection Rates
  8. Vaccination Trend
  9. Dose Coverage
  10. Discussion
  11. Design Guidelines and Implications
  12. Limitations and Future Work
  13. Conclusion

Figures (1)

  • Figure 1: Tactile chart mockups illustrating SenseMap. Left: Bar chart for infection rate comparisons (Task: Compare values, Strategy: Aligning fingers, Encoding: Equal-width bars with shared baseline). Center: Line chart for vaccination trend over time (Task: Identify trends, Strategy: Sequential sweeping, Encoding: Raised line with anchor points). Right: Stacked bar chart for dose coverage (Task: Estimate proportion, Strategy: Segment estimation, Encoding: Textured segments).