This paper stems from the challenges that blind users face when interacting with public digital interfaces. It reports the intervention on TOMIs – urban interactive devices with large touch screens (55-inch) – aiming to improve their accessibility, as part of the TOMI For All project. The project team conducted a study and designed solutions to increase usability and enable visually impaired people to autonomously access the information and services provided by these public devices, installed in Portugal, Brazil, and Chile. The main developments include the creation of a screen reader, inclusion of descriptions for graphical content, and enhancements in the audio hardware system. The screen reader allows for both hierarchical navigation of the contents using tactile gestures inspired by Android TalkBack and iOS VoiceOver, and free screen exploration, relevant for tasks that are difficult to perform in a list navigation mode, such as typing on a virtual keyboard. The problem of signalling the equipment to blind users in an urban environment is also addressed, revealing limitations of tactile indicators on the floor surface and sound beacons, and presenting awareness-raising activities among the blind community as a possible solution. The report also discusses ongoing work, including the coexistence of hierarchical navigation and free exploration modes, throughout the application. With these contributions, the project not only promotes accessibility but also highlights the importance of inclusive design in public digital solutions, ensuring that they respond to users with different abilities.

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Public Digital Interfaces for Blind Users: A Case Study in Large Touch Screen Devices

  • José Cardoso,
  • Valter Alves,
  • Rui Duarte

摘要

This paper stems from the challenges that blind users face when interacting with public digital interfaces. It reports the intervention on TOMIs – urban interactive devices with large touch screens (55-inch) – aiming to improve their accessibility, as part of the TOMI For All project. The project team conducted a study and designed solutions to increase usability and enable visually impaired people to autonomously access the information and services provided by these public devices, installed in Portugal, Brazil, and Chile. The main developments include the creation of a screen reader, inclusion of descriptions for graphical content, and enhancements in the audio hardware system. The screen reader allows for both hierarchical navigation of the contents using tactile gestures inspired by Android TalkBack and iOS VoiceOver, and free screen exploration, relevant for tasks that are difficult to perform in a list navigation mode, such as typing on a virtual keyboard. The problem of signalling the equipment to blind users in an urban environment is also addressed, revealing limitations of tactile indicators on the floor surface and sound beacons, and presenting awareness-raising activities among the blind community as a possible solution. The report also discusses ongoing work, including the coexistence of hierarchical navigation and free exploration modes, throughout the application. With these contributions, the project not only promotes accessibility but also highlights the importance of inclusive design in public digital solutions, ensuring that they respond to users with different abilities.