1. Tactile Graphics: Techy to Artsy
Accessing Higher Ground 2016 Lucia Hasty  Robert Beach  Gaeir Dietrich

2. Who We Are Robert Beach Lucia Hasty Gaeir Dietrich
AT Specialist, Kansas City Kansas Community College
(913) *
Lucia Hasty
Tactile Graphics Specialist
(719) *
Gaeir Dietrich
Director High Tech Center Training Unit
(408) *

3. Introductions Introduce yourselves
What production methods are you currently using?
Do you have a burning question that you need to have answered?

4. Burning Questions Math Maps Art Science Geography Geology Geometry
Economics
Cell biology
Anatomy
Statistics
Music
Campus maps

5. What? You need these graphics tomorrow?

6. Graphics. What to do? Web pages, DE courses, online documents In books
Alt text
In books
Possibly alt text
Generally preferred
Possibly insert the caption
Preferred by some students so that the caption does not interrupt reading

7. Tactile Graphics
Math Example
The graph of a Gaussian function is a characteristic symmetric “bell curve” shape that quickly falls off towards plus/minus infinity.

8. Possible Alt Text The graphic is informational.
The graph illustrates what a bell curve is.
Alt text could be “A bell curve.”
However…what if the student does not know what a bell curve is?!?

9. When More Is Needed
Sometimes even a long description will not really convey the information in the graphic.
The alt text will not be sufficient for a student’s needs.
Tactile graphics to the rescue!

10. I have the graphic, now what?
First figure out the purpose of the graphic.
What does the graphic convey?
How much is the purpose of the graphic informational? How much decoration?

11. Tactile Graphics
Handling Graphics
When determining the purpose, always consider the context in which the graphic is being shown.
The same graphic may have a different purpose in a different context.
Sometimes decoration
Sometimes informational

12. How Do I Decide??
Does the student need to do something with the graphic or understand something from it?
Informational
Is the graphic simply entertaining or “pretty”?
Decoration

13. Context and Intent What is the learning object for this graphic?
Tactile Graphics
Context and Intent
What is the learning object for this graphic?
Why is it here? What is the concept? What do the authors want you to learn?
What is it that you need to do with the information?
Activity? How do you use the information?

14. What Next? Do you need to do all of them?
About 10%
How do you know which ones to do?
Decision Tree
Author’s Intent
Learning Objective
Ask Prof to establish priority
Ask student his/her preference

15. Decision Tree Decide if you need to do it
Figure out what you are going to do
Figure out you method for creating

17. No Single Right Way There is no single way to handle graphics.
Just remember…
Keep context in mind

18. Tactile Graphics Working with the BANA Guidelines Tactile Graphics

19. What Is a Tactile Graphic?
Tactile representation of a two-dimensional graphic (drawing, chart, graph, etc.)
Tactile interpretation of a graphic
Not an exact copy—convey the same information in a totally different form
You have artistic license; you can change scale and orientation as necessary

20. Tactiles Needed STEM subjects Maps
Tactile graphics are often needed to convey complex concepts
Charts and graphs
Molecular structures
Circuits and vectors
Diagrams of systems
Maps

21. Microcapsule Learning what the tools can do…
We are going to play with a blank sheet of puff paper and writing devices:
China markers
Gel pens
Soft lead pencils
Black dry erase markers

22. What to Consider
How are we going to convey the information represented in the graphic?
BANA Guidelines
BANA ( has a great decision tree for determining what you need for a tactile graphic

23. Tactile Representation
Simplify
Think about a young child’s coloring book
Basic outlines work well
Reduce “noise”
No shading, stippling, shadows
Limit use of “perspective”
Do not include extraneous detail
Check text to see what information is discussed
Include *only* needed information

24. Rule of “Fingers” Fingers have to move to read
Make shapes at least an index-finger width wide
Except for point markers
Allow a little-finger width between labels and shapes
No extraneous lines
Limit lead lines; label areas instead

25. Graphic Vocabulary Distinctly different—limit to 4 or 5 (each) Labels
Textures
Blank is a texture
Lines
Smooth, dotted, thick, thin
Points
Do not use stars!
Labels
Use color if the students can see it, and always use tactile information, too!

26. Creating the Graphics Always pretest lines and textures
Textures reproduce differently on Tiger, PIAF, Thermoform, etc.
Use heaviest lines/textures for most important elements
Place distinctly different lines/textures near each other.

27. Need a Key? Always place keys before the graphic!
Use logical two-letter abbreviations, rather than numbers
Tests have shown they are easier to remember

28. Tactile Tips Write out in words what the graphic is for
Figure out lines and fills before starting to draw
Develop basic axes, grids, etc. (templates) to reuse
One print graphic may be multiple tactile pages

29. Braille Labels on Swell Paper
Type labels in Duxbury
Enter in print view and then translate
Copy translated braille and paste into graphics program
Select labels and make them Braille font
Fonts come with Duxbury
Set font size to about 28 point

30. Braille Codes Separate codes for
Literary
Math and Scientific Notation (Nemeth Code)
Chemistry
Music
Foreign Language
New braille code: Unified English Braille, as of January 2016

31. Venn Diagram Venn Try the following: Try different fills dots, dashes
Gel pen
Soft lead pencil
China marker
Black dry erase marker

32. Tactile Graphics Guidelines Hardcopy
Guidelines and Standards for Tactile Graphics, Supplements
Available from American Printing House for the Blind (APH)
Machine: check American Thermoform or HumanWare

33. Other Tactile Graphics
Tooling & Collage
Puff paint, Wikki Stix
Magnets, cork board, string, felt board
Raised line drawing kit
Talking tactiles

34. Production Methods Techy Artsy Firebird (Phoenix) / Tiger / Index
Adobe Illustrator
MS Word
Paint / Gimp / Zamzar
TactileView
Toaster Technology
3D Printers
Collage
Markers and puff paper
Puff paint
Braille graph paper
Glue sticks
Draftsman Drawing Kit
Sensational blackboard
inTACT

35. Reality Check Not all students are familiar with tactile graphics.
To help students learn…
Start with a 3D model
Present the same concept with collage
Now create a PIAF representation of the concept

36. Guided Practice

37. Guided Practice
Pie Chart

45. From the Computer Design graphic on computer Print from laser printer
Illustrator, Corel Draw
Word
Print from laser printer
Make copy on swell paper using copy machine

46. Advantages Can create templates Graph paper XY axes Venn diagram
Basic maps
Basic outlines of biology concepts
Anything that you can reuse!

47. What about 3D?

48. Reality Check Easy to create “blobs” Best uses: science, math, maps
Some success with bas relief of artwork
Lots of questions on what is useful and what is not

49. Technically Requires a 3D printer
Please note: printers need to be used—sitting around is not good for them
Some libraries contain accessible materials, but it helps if you can draw
Software makes it somewhat easier, but if you have no art background, you may struggle

50. 3D Modeling/Printing Software
Tactile Graphics
3D Modeling/Printing Software
There are open source options (ex. Blender, Cura) Proprietary Applications AutoDesk has free apps
123D Catch
Generate 3D models from photos
123D Circuits
Design your next electronic project
123D Design
Easy 3D modeling for Web, Mac, and PC
123D Make
Unique 3D models from 2D slices
123D Sculpt+
Create 3D sculptures on iPad
Meshmixer
The ultimate tool for 3D mashups
Tinkercad
Get started with 3D modeling
Tinkerplay New!
Design, customize and 3D print for play

51. Where It’s Going

52. Lucia
What’s on the tactile graphics horizon?

53. Tactile Graphics
Final Thoughts

54. Production Methods Techy Artsy Firebird (Phoenix) / Tiger / Index
Adobe Illustrator
MS Word
Paint / Gimp / Zamzar
TactileView
Toaster Technology
3D Printers
Collage
Markers and puff paper
Puff paint
Braille graph paper
Glue sticks
Draftsman Drawing Kit
Sensational blackboard
inTACT

55. Thinking Like an Artist
Artists do not complain that sculpting in wood is different from sculpting in stone!
Artists learn the properties of their materials and then ask, “What can I create with this?”

56. Properties
Artists understand that they have to work within the constraints of their materials
Oil paint, watercolor, oil pastels all behave differently and give different effects
With tactiles
PIAF, Tiger, Phoenix, Thermoform all have different capabilities

57. Remember… Art is in the “eye” or, in this case, finger of the beholder
Focus on what it feels like and less on how “pretty” it looks

58. Resources

59. Helpful Tech Tools Print screen Wacom “mouse pen” tablets SnagIt
From TechSmith
Allows you to “grab” all or portions of any image you can see on the computer
Images can be edited to create tactile graphics

60. Puffing Graphics Capsule paper fusers (aka toasters)
PIAF (Pictures in a Flash) HumanWare
Zy-Fuse American Thermoform

61. Important
U.S. distributor of capsule paper: American Thermoform Corporation
Be aware: All capsule paper is not created equal!!!

62. Guidelines for Tactiles
Good information
BANA Guidelines

63. Graphics Libraries APH Tactile Graphic Image Library ZyChem Load2Learn
ZyChem
Load2Learn

64. 3D Repositories & Communities
Thingiverse – huge repository – awesome!
Library Lyna – Braille optimized – growing
3D Warehouse – used by those on sketchup (which was a google product and not great for prints, but has sold)
GrabCAD – used by engineers
Variety of models, including those created from photos

65. Prepared Tactiles Ready-made graphics Predescribed graphics
American Printing House:
National Braille Press:
Princeton Braillists (maps):
Predescribed graphics
Diagram Center:

66. Talking Graphics Touch Graphics View Plus Talking Tactile Tablet
View Plus
Tiger Embosser
IVEO talking tablet

67. Good Resources for Description
Diagram Center
NCAM
Guidelines for describing STEM

68. 3D Hands-On Go to Thingiverse to search for files of interest
Create TinkerCad account and complete tutorials then try opening saved files and manipulating them

69. Hiring Work Done Alternate Text Production Center (ATPC)
Princeton Braillists
princetonbraillists/
South Dakota Pheasantland Industries
braille.aspx

70. Who Ya Gonna Call? Tactile Graphics Expert
Lucia Hasty
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