Difference between revisions of "Mind mapping for people who are blind"

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The response to my call to help the student has been amazing. '''''[[Talk:Mind mapping for people who are blind|Take a look at the Discussion tab to see how amazing]]'''''.   
 
The response to my call to help the student has been amazing. '''''[[Talk:Mind mapping for people who are blind|Take a look at the Discussion tab to see how amazing]]'''''.   
  
The ideas so far are consolidated in the mind map on the right.  I am working to summarize it in text, but there is already an '''[[Mind mapping for people who are blind - plain text|indented outline in plain text]]''' that I hope can be scanned to Braille.  I know little about screen readers and Braille output, so if users of these devices can suggest better ways of laying out the text, please tweet [http://twitter.com/roygrubb @roygrubb].  
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The ideas so far are consolidated in the mind map on the right and is summarized in "#Findings|Findings]]" below, but there is already an '''[[Mind mapping for people who are blind - plain text|indented outline in plain text]]''' that I hope can be scanned to Braille.  I know little about screen readers and Braille output, so if users of these devices can suggest better ways of laying out the text, please tweet [http://twitter.com/roygrubb @roygrubb].  
  
 
<nowiki>** </nowiki><font size=1>Sorry about the need for an account, spammers killed anonymous editing.</font>
 
<nowiki>** </nowiki><font size=1>Sorry about the need for an account, spammers killed anonymous editing.</font>

Revision as of 10:17, 27 January 2011

To use the mind map, pick one of these links:- Interactive Flash
Interactive PDF
Above image, full size
Text outline for Braille reader
MindManager .mmap file
PDF needs latest Acrobat.
Flash needs latest version.

Twitter throws up a challenge!

A blind person on Twitter asked about products to help him mind map. He “will need to do many mind maps for a course” he wrote, and “do you know anything on Pictorial Guides?? it’s another thing i need to use in this economics course. thanks!”

This is a challenge, need I say, because mapping of any sort is intensely visual.

This is a community page where WikIT has been working with mapping and accessibility experts from Twitter and LinkedIn Groups to help this student, and perhaps others with the same need in future. 29 contributors so far.

If you can add your expertise, please create an account** and jump in. Click the ‘Discussion’ tab at the top of this page to see all the ideas and information that others have contributed, and add your own. If you’re not familiar with Wikipedia-type editing, please tweet @roygrubb with the information you want added.

The response to my call to help the student has been amazing. Take a look at the Discussion tab to see how amazing.

The ideas so far are consolidated in the mind map on the right and is summarized in “#Findings|Findings]]” below, but there is already an indented outline in plain text that I hope can be scanned to Braille. I know little about screen readers and Braille output, so if users of these devices can suggest better ways of laying out the text, please tweet @roygrubb.

** Sorry about the need for an account, spammers killed anonymous editing.

Products[edit]

I thought technology would be the only answer, but we have had analogue-world suggestions as well. The student is at present using:

On Windows

On Mac OSX and on iOS

Needs[edit]

We need to consider the following activities: A blind student making maps, whether for better understanding of a topic or for handing in as part of course work, and consuming maps. These may be maps of others on the course – in a study group for example – or his/her own maps for revision.

The products that the student has are aimed it making words accessible – either in Braille or to be read by a voice synthesizer.

While a partially-sighted person might be able to use high-contrast screen settings and an enlarger, this person is blind, so to understand mind maps, touch or sound seem to be the only options (updated to add sound).

We started with the questions: Is there a device to render images as raised dots? Are there other options?

Pictorial guides[edit]

It seems that if we have a solution for mind maps, there is a reasonable chance that it will help with any form of image, but color is likely to be a problem, if elements of a diagram are color coded.

Findings[edit]

Suggestions made can be divided into two categories: Analogue: manipulating real-world materials mainly involving touch, and digital: supported by computer technology using touch and hearing.

Analog[edit]

  • A special pen that raises the paper surface for drawing and allows writing in Braille. This was successfully used once by a participant in a mind mapping and drawing course. Ahead of the course, the trainer prepared some raised images to support the blind person’s participation in the course and discussed it with them in advance. For a student on a regular economics course, whether this is as successful will depend on support from lecturers.
  • Thick paper, using a stylus to gouge out lines, form and textures. Using a Braille writer to write words, and glue them to the paper, positioning by feel according to the depressions made by the stylus. Possibly using the stylus to write.
  • Thin card, using string and thick plastic glue in a glue gun to draw the mind map. Branches are varied in width and texture to help the order to be recalled. A product called Wikki Stix was suggested – a possible substitute for a glue gun. “Colorful, versatile wax and yarn combination, Wikki Stix will stick together without glue for easy arts and crafts projects. No preparation, no cleanup. Twist and bend into flat designs … . Reusable. Will not crumble, break, or dry out.”
  • Use adhesive plastic shapes of the type used for mosaic, or use Lego bricks. Differentiate by shape, texture and density, glue words in Braille to plastic forms. Use string, plastic tape, wool, copper wire for connectors.
  • Contact makers of raised maps of the city of Geneva to see if their technique could be adapted.
  • Most usefully, two people offered direct help to the student. One is himself blind so can contribute practical knowledge of what works and what does not.

Digital[edit]

Computer technology may support spacial information about mind or concept maps and allow the blind mapper to work by touch, sound or a combination.

Sound[edit]

  • The iPad and iPhone have many mind mapping packages and they also run VoiceOver which can read text back to a blind user. Given that this is activated by touching the screen at the position of the words, it will also give some clue about the layout, but not feedback on the lines (edges) joining the nodes.
  • Inspiration software is said to have a built in talking/listening interface. Seeking further information from the person who suggested it and Inspiration Software themselves.
  • Use Org-mode (download) to prepare maps as outlines – easy to navigate and probably well-supported by Emacspeak. (Emacs info) Can be exported to FreeMind (download) or Freeplane (download).
  • Use Cmap as follows: Prepare propositions as text in a spreadsheet with dictation software. Import text and it makes a concept map. It has been tried with MacSpeech Dictate and MS Excel and works.
  • Also Prof. Sanchez, University of Chile, has developed concept mapping software for blind students. @roygrubb emailed Prof. Sanchez and learned that the current status was as follows: “This product and others related to using concept maps for designing videogames are under research right now. AudiodMC came from dMC (for sighted users) that was used in Chilean schools.” So this comes under the heading of ‘useful futures’.
  • JAWS and ZoomText/Reader have been recommended as products. The student has JAWS and NVDA.

Touch and Sound[edit]

  • The Livescribe pen + raised line drawing kit: “Using the smart pen with a raised line drawing kit allows visually impaired and blind people a chance to interact with the diagrams and pictures.”
plan-b ©Oriko Design büro
  • “plan.b”, a prototype only, that translates digital (geographical) maps to tactile maps on pin matrix and includes sound components. There is no sign that this is in production or that it can handle mind maps, but the potential seems evident. This is the best source of information but the designer was Oriko Design büro.
  • Virtual Maps For The Blind“ haptic (touch-active) feedback on a joystick for virtual worlds. Is it applicable to mind maps? @roygrubb has written to author Dr. Lahav.

 

Thanks[edit]

Thanks for publicity to @visualmapperorg for a blog post at VisualMapper.org, to @soulati for her post at the SMB collective, to @vicgee for his post at mind-mapping.org and all the responses and re-tweets so far.

The progress report has grown so large that it has been transferred to the Discussion tab

Thanks for ideas, offers of help and shared knowledge of experience to those who have contributed so far:

@assistivetek; @sachac; @jamienast; @roygrubb; @vicgee; Leo Roman; @Jennison; @Roopakshi; @VisualLeap; Brian Moon; Prof. Alberto J. Cañas; Prof. Jaime Sánchez; Jennison Asuncion; Roy Blumenthal; David Hyder; Fred Lakin; Brandy Agerbeck; Idriss Ait-Bouziad; Roberta Faulhaber; Michel Laan; Tim Fulford; Raju Mandhyan; Chandrashekhar Ranade; Michael Gerochi; Neil Auty; Brian Friedlander; Barbara Tversky.

If I have missed anyone please let me know.

This is cool: Prof. Alberto J. Cañas has given us some useful information about a project in the University of Chile. And in case you don’t know, he is a co-author of many papers with Prof. Joseph Novak, and is one of the originators of concept mapping.

Spread the word[edit]

I know something about mind mapping software but most of what I know about accessibility options I have learned while building this page, so I will not write any more, other than to ask all to contribute their knowledge, or point this out to anyone they know with experience in this field.

If you’re on Twitter, you might consider tweeting this:

Helping the blind engage with visual methods when a course demands it: Do you have specialist knowledge? Can you help? http://bit.ly/h25M3H