Anne DeWitte

Anne DeWitte

Tangible Surface Research, LLC

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Project Resultsvisually impairedtactile iconshome appliancesHALOStactile overlaybraille appliance overlaysbump dotsbumpdotsrochester makerspacecricutjo-ann fabricshciaccessibilityacmrit
Published on Jan 25, 2017

Abstract

Appliance overlays using tactile icons promote self-sufficiency in the home for people who are visually impaired.  The tactile icons identify the location and function of buttons on home appliances...

Project Results
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Published on Jun 24, 2016

Overlays now available for purchase

Hi Backers,Since the experiment ended I have continued to work on the overlays - more tactile icon development with RIT Professor Deborah Beardslee and student Emma Echols, plus extensive in-home t...

visually impaired
tactile icons
home appliances
HALOS
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Published on May 08, 2016

Testing tactile appliance overlays for the visually impaired in their homes

Though the experiment has ended the overlay development has continued. Appliance overlays are installed in three homes and so far the results are great! The goal is to help visual...

visually impaired
tactile icons
home appliances
tactile overlay
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Published on Jan 24, 2016

Tactile Icons

What are tactile icons? Shapes that have meaning.Why not use braille labels? Braille is preferred by some visually impaired people but it is not a universal design. Tactile icons, just like visu...

tactile icons
braille
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Published on Jan 23, 2016

Experiment Complete. Thank you!

Done! Look at the Results section for the summary, analysis and future directions. Thank you backers!Thank you Joe Kells, Rene Latorre and all the test participants at the Associa...

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Published on Jan 01, 2016

Appliance Overlays

Four appliance overlays were tested. I will explain why these overlays were selected and how they were made. Let me know if you have any questions.Bump Dot Overlay What is it? A s...

appliance overlays
bump dots
bumpdots
rochester makerspace
cricut
jo-ann fabrics
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Published on Nov 30, 2015

RIT School of Design Students Continuing Tactile Icon Development

Last month at the RIT Effective Access Technology Conference, Professor Deborah Beardslee stopped by our booth and learned about the study. She thought the tactile icon activity would be a great o...

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Published on Nov 19, 2015

Testing is complete!

Hello Team!Testing was completed at ABVI on Monday 11/16/15. Now to crunch the numbers. Thank you to the test participants! Here are a couple pictures. There will ...

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Published on Nov 19, 2015

Touch Surface Experiment at the RIT Effective Access Technology Conference

Hello Team!It has been a very busy two weeks. Thank you for making all this possible. On Tuesday 11/10/2015, we participated in the RIT Effective Access Technology Conference as an exhibitor. We...

visually impaired
hci
accessibility
acm
rit
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Show more updates
Reply to:Don RilingDon Riling
Hello Don, our local organzation - the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ABVI) will be spreading the word. Also I may find someone to produce a simple video. I've tried to make contacts with the larger advocacy organizations but no luck. To them I'm just another vendor trying to...more
Jun 27, 2016
Project: Designing touch surfaces to help the visually impaired operate home...
Thank you Don. It is inspiring and motivating to work with the ABVI test participants, especially Kirstyn Smith who dedicated an afternoon to evaluate overlays developed by the RIT students. We are on the right track. Support from you and the rest of the backers make this all happen!
Dec 01, 2015
Project: Designing touch surfaces to help the visually impaired operate home...
Hi Steve Great comments! Here we go… Regarding form _follows_ function, I’ll post a lab note voicing the desired state once I have received all the input from the test. From what I have observed so far, aesthetics are important, even to people that are totally blind. Stay tuned for that no...more
Nov 15, 2015
Project: Designing touch surfaces to help the visually impaired operate home...
Reply to:Steve DealSteve Deal
Hi Steve! Excellent point. I thought of adding a registration point or shape for the test but a raised frame is a much better idea. Most microwave control panels have well-defined edges but I noticed that many refrigerator control panels are very smooth and blend in with the doors. Same with ...more
Oct 16, 2015
Project: Designing touch surfaces to help the visually impaired operate home...