Perspectives about implementation of colour codes on maps accessible to blind people

ABSTRACT

Tactile colour codes or tactile symbols were developed for communicating colours to blind people. Initially, these colour codes were designed to enable blind or visually impaired people to choose their own clothes and learn colour theory. The objective of this research is to investigate the perspectives of geoinformation professionals on the viability of implementing colour codes on thematic tactile maps using only the graphic primitive area. Thus, geoinformation professionals were invited to express their perspectives on ten colour code systems during and after the “I Workshop Usability 4 All”, which took place during the “XI Brazilian Colloquium on Geodetic Sciences”, Brazil, 2020. The results indicated that there is no consensus on which system is more appropriate for experimentation on tactile maps. However, Feelipa Color and See Color were the systems that showed the greatest potential as six participants preferred the first and five preferred the latter. This is associated with the fact that both systems were classified as relatively viable or potentially viable for implementation in the primitive area, considering the aspects of Drawing, Dimensions and Intuitiveness.

ABSTRAITE

Les codes des couleurs tactiles ou les symboles tactiles ont été développés pour communiquer la couleur aux non-voyants. Au début, ces codes de couleurs ont été conçus pour permettre aux non ou mal voyants de choisir leurs propres vêtements et apprendre la théorie des couleurs. L'objectif de cette recherche est d'étudier les perspectives, pour les professionnels de l'information géographique, pour implémenter les codes couleurs sur les cartes tactiles thématiques en utilisant uniquement les objets surfaciques. Ainsi, des professionnels de l'information géographique ont été invités à exprimer leurs points de vue sur 10 systèmes de code de couleur pendant et après le workshop intitulé ‘Ergonomie pour tous' qui a eu lieu pendant le 11^ème colloque Brésilien des Sciences Géodésiques au Brésil en 2020. Les résultats montrent qu'il n'y a pas de consensus sur le fait qu'un système soit plus adapté qu'un autre pour l'expérimentation de cartes tactiles. Pourtant, les système Feelipa Color et See Color ont montré un plus grand potentiel puisque six des participants ont préféré le premier et cinq le deuxième. Par ailleurs, les deux systèmes ont été classés comme viables ou possiblement viables pour l'implémentation sur les objets surfaciques, en prenant en compte les critères de dessin, de dimension et d’intuition.

KEYWORDS:

• Cartographic design
• graphic variable
• see color

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the participants in the study. The authors Niédja Sodré de Araújo and Amanda Pereira Antunes participated in the conceptualization and preparation of the text, as well as in the visualization and representation of the colour codes and graphics. Luciene Stamato Delazari and Andrea Faria Andrade worked on the conceptualization and development of the methodology, recommendation of formal techniques for analysing the results and also on the critical review of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

The authors would like to thank the Graduate Program in Geodesic Sciences, the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) for promoting Doctorate researches No. 158303/2018-0 and No. 162944/2017-9 and the Research Productivity Scholarship n° 310312/2017-5.

Notes on contributors

Niédja Sodré de Araújo

Niédja Sodré de Araújo is a Geographer graduated from the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Master in Civil Engineering with emphasis in Spatial Information (UFBA). Currently, she is a PhD student in Geodetic Sciences with emphasis in Cartography at the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR).

Luciene Stamato Delazari

Luciene Stamato Delazari is a Cartographic Engineer, Master in Geodetic Sciences, Ph.D. in Cartography. Professor at Federal University of Paraná since 1997. Vice-chair of User Experience Commission of the ICA.

Amanda Pereira Antunes

Amanda Pereira Antunes is a Cartographer and Surveyor Engineer graduated at Federal University of Paraná. Master degree with emphasis in Cartography. Currently is a PhD student at Graduate Program in Geodetic Sciences, Federal University of Parana and research about indoor mapping.

Andrea Faria Andrade

Andrea Faria Andrade is a Cartographic Engineer, Bachelor in Design, Master in Geodesic Sciences, Ph.D. in Cartography. Professor at Federal University of Paraná since 2006.