DiGVis: A system for comprehension and creation of directed graphs for the visually challenged

• Published in: Universal access in the information society Vol. 15; no. 2; pp. 199 - 217
• Main Authors: Syal, Poonam, Chatterji, Shantanu, Sardana, Harish Kumar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.06.2016; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Accessibility; Adaptive technology; Blindness; Blinds; Computer Communication Networks; Computer Science; Computers and Society; Education; Flow charts; Flowcharts; Graph theory; Graphical representations; Graphs; Inclusions; Information Storage and Retrieval; Information Systems Applications (incl.Internet); Interactive; IT in Business; Long Paper; User Interfaces and Human Computer Interaction; Visual impairment; Multimodal interface; Visually challenged; Flowchart; Directed graph; Mental visualization; Non-visual representation
• ISSN: 1615-5289; 1615-5297
• DOI: 10.1007/s10209-014-0387-7

One of the major barriers for the social inclusion of blind persons is the limited access to graphics-based learning resources which are highly vision oriented. This paper presents a cost-effective tool which facilitates comprehension and creation of virtual directed graphs, such as flowcharts, using alternate modalities of audio and touch. It provides a physically accessible virtual spatial workspace and multimodal interface to non-visually represent directed graphs in interactive manner. The concept of spatial query is used to aid exploration and mental visualization through audio and tactile feedback. A unique aspect of the tool, named DiGVis, offers compatible representations of directed graphs for the sighted and non-sighted persons. A study with 28 visually challenged subjects indicates that the tool facilitates comprehension of layout and directional connectivity of elements in a virtual diagram. Further, in a pilot study, blind persons could independently comprehend a virtual flowchart layout and its logical steps. They were also able to create the flowchart data without sighted assistance using DiGVis. A comparison with sighted subjects using DiGVis for similar task demonstrates the effectiveness of the technique for inclusive education.