Graphs in sound: a numerical data analysis method for the blind
In this study computer-generated sound patterns were shown to provide the blind with the ability to analyze 2-dimensional graphical data. A continuously-varying pitch was used to represent the amplitude of a curve in the y-direction, and time was used to represent motion in the x-direction. Human factors experiments were performed on 14 subjects to compare the tactile-graph methods normally used by the blind, to these new sound-graphs. It was discovered that mathematical concepts such as symmetry, monotonicity and the slopes of lines could be determined more quickly using sound. The relative accuracy of the subjects on five sets of test questions was virtually the same (sound = 84.6%, tactile = 88.9%, p = 0.05), and even better performance could be expected with greater training. The flexibility, speed, cost effectiveness and greater measure of independence provided the blind or sight-impaired using these sound methods was demonstrated. 23 references, 4 figures, 2 tables.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 7044393
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-53548; ON: DE84013322
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions are illegible in microfiche products. Original copy available until stock is exhausted. Thesis
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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COMPUTER OUTPUT DEVICES
HUMAN FACTORS ENGINEERING
COMPUTER GRAPHICS
DISPLAY DEVICES
HANDICAPPED PEOPLE
SOUND WAVES
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
ENGINEERING
HUMAN POPULATIONS
MINORITY GROUPS
POPULATIONS
990200* - Mathematics & Computers