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While there is little direct research of assistive technology used in professional audio settings, much other research applies. Professional audio technology has often been built upon the technology borrows from other domains, such as computing, telecommunications, and video. This, along with the advances in digital audio that have moved the recording studio largely into the computer, allows users with visual impairments to benefit from standard computer assistive technology such as screen readers. There are interesting strides being made in the form of haptic interfaces, which allow a user to physically interact (usually in the form of vibration or force feedback) with an application or a graphical display of a waveform. Another milieu that holds great promise is the area of 3-dimensional aural cues and the mapping of a graphical interface into this 3-dimensional sonic space.
Shimomura, Y., Hvannberg, E. T., & Hafsteinsson, H. (2010). Accessibility of audio and tactile interfaces for young blind people performing everyday tasks. Universal Access in the Information Society, 2010, Volume 9, Number 4, Pages 297-310. (http://www.springerlink.com.pallas2.tcl.sc.edu/content/88268xq589343257)
This study examined the effectiveness of audio (screen reader) versus tactile (Braille displays) feedback systems. Subjects performed common computer tasks, such as web browsing, word processing and communicating via e-mail. The study determined that each type of feedback system in better suited to certain types of tasks, and that a combination of the two yields best results.
Roth, P., Petrucci, L. S., Assimacopoulus, A., & Pun, T. (2000). Audio-Haptic Internet Browser and Associated Tools for Blind and Visually Impaired Computer Users. COST 254 Intelligent Terminals, Workshop on Friendly Exchanging Through the Net. 57-62.>(http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.35.4282)
Bishop G. & Parente, P. (2003). BATS: The Blind Audio Tactile Mapping System. ACMSE. Savannah, GA. (www.cs.unc.edu/Research/assist/bats/papers/BATS.pdf)
The primary focus of the research described in the BATS project is working with student with visual impairments and helping them to access spatial information such as maps. The researchers are attempting to utilize standard computer and gaming hardware to create haptic feedback devices. Haptic devices give physical feedback - usually in the form of vibrations or pushes - that allow a user to 'explore' any visual map. The researchers also describe surround sound audio that can be used to provide positional information to the subject. While this research is clearly focused on helping young learners access maps, there is great potential for application of this technology to professional audio. The waveform displays and metering information are important visual cues for a recording engineer. This system offers the potential to provide that information in a tactile manner, using inexpensive hardware and software.
Lethold, S., Bargas-Avila, J. A., & Opwis, K. (2008). Beyond web content accessibility guidelines: Design of enhanced text user interfaces for blind internet users. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 66, 4, 257-270. (http://www.sciencedirect.com.pallas2.tcl.sc.edu/science/article/pii/S1071581907001413)
In this study, the researchers outline and test a set of guidelines for web design. This new set of design standards, enhanced text interface (ETI) seeks to improve on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) by reducing short term memory load. The ETI uses numbered navigation structure, reduces extraneous design elements, and strives for consistency among other requirements. 39 participants who had experience with the JAWS screen reader were given a pre-test, and then several tasks to complete via a JAWS-enabled web browser both with a standard GUI and with the ETI. Users performed the search task faster and with fewer errors using the ETI, but there was no such improvement seen for navigation. This study shows that there is room for improvement in accessible interfaces and that more needs to be done than directly translating an existing visual interface.
O'Malley, M. & Gupta, A. (2008). Haptic Interfaces. HCI: Beyond the GUI. Morgan-Kaufman, 25-74. (mahilab.rice.edu/sites/mahilab.rice.edu/files/publications/105-Kortum02Gupta-O'Malley.pdf)
O'Modhrain, S. & Gillespie, B. (1995). A Haptic Interface for the Digital Sound Studio. CCMRA, Stanford, CA. (ccrma.stanford.edu/files/papers/stanm95.pdf)
O'Modhrain, S. & Gillespie, B. (1995). The Moose: A Haptic User Interface for Blind Persons with Application to the Digital Sound Studio. CCMRA, Stanford, CA. (ccrma.stanford.edu/~sile/papers/www6-paper.html)
The Moose is a haptic interface for a computer. Haptic interfaces use motion as an input and feel as an output. The Moose was developed to allow an audio engineer with a visual impairment to move through an audio file with the haptic device while they 'feel' the shape of the waveform through the device. At the same time they hear the audio file via speakers. The advantage of a haptic interface is that, unlike screen readers, it does not use sound to provide feedback to the operator.
Andresen, G. (2002). Playing by Ear: Creating Blind-Accessible Games. CMP Media. (http://www.gamasutra.com/resource_guide/20020520/andersen_01.htm)
Bogusz, E. Skrodzka, E., Hojan, E., Jakubowski, M. Talukder, A, & Hojan-Jezierska, D. (2011). Sounds and Vibrations Necessary for Library of Vibroacoustic Events Addresses to Visually Impaired Persons. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies. 20, 6, 1395-1401. (https://pallas2.tcl.sc.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=67660319&site=ehost-live)
This is the beginning of a series of planned studies of how persons who are visually impaired utilize sound and vibration to orient themselves to their surroundings and move throughout them. The first study was a questionnaire designed to determine what should be included in library of commonly used sounds and vibrations. This library will later be used for training the hearing skills of people with visual impairments.