HapticRiaMaps

Abstract

Existing information on the Web and especially maps are graphically-orientated and in most cases visually impaired users have very restricted access and find it difficult to recognize this kind of visual representation. For visually impaired people and especially for blind users alternative information presentation ways must be found, which would replace visual information. We investigate the potential role of haptics in augmenting the visualization of maps exist on the Web. HapticRiaMaps is a free open source web application enforces the accessibility of maps for the visually impaired users. Issues of multimodal interaction, relevant sonifications, and haptic technologies enable efficient map exploration of preferable and well known 2D maps (retrieves maps from OpenStreetMap web application).