2001 Conference Proceedings
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How the California School for the Blind Uses the VirTouch
System
James Carreon, Technology Coordinator
California School for the Blind
Introduction
Blind and visually impaired students have always had difficulty
accessing graphics in their academic career. Charts and diagrams
need to be obtained early and raised line diagrams created for
the student. The purpose of this paper is to provide information
about the use of the Virtouch tactile mouse by students at the
California School for the Blind. After testing this device over
the last year and a half, we have identified uses and strategies
that enable students to work with graphics, created or scanned
into a Windows computer.
Equal Access
Concepts are built using models, diagrams, maps and symbols to
build images. Sighted people use these tools to create mental
images of things they cannot see such as an atom, city or solar
system. Until now, blind students have not been supplied with the
same tools in order to form their own combination of mental
images and concepts. VTS provides a blind user a virtual
representation of the actual computer screen. In this way the
student can build a mental image and cognitive map of the
contents of the computer screen VTS uses several channels to help
the blind user create a mental map. Touch Movement of the hand
Audio Visual - for those who have some vision. Multiple channel
input enhances the memorizing and analytical process.
The Virtouch Tactile Mouse The Virtouch tactile mouse is a
device about twice the size of a standard computer mouse. It
contains three cells of 32-pins each that rise and fall as the
cursor moves over a graphic on the computer screen. The student
places his hand on the mouse, gently resting his fingers on the
three cells. The student is then able to explore the Windows
graphical user interface and well as "look" at individual
diagrams. With the software that comes with the device, graphics
can be labeled so the student can receive an auditory description
of various parts of the graphic. Training Training is a critical
issue for the students using the tactile mouse. The Virtouch
system comes with training software that teaches the student in a
logical and sequential manner how to use the mouse. Students
begin by tracing simple vertical and horizontal lines on the
screen. They progress through intersecting lines and basic
symbols of everyday objects such as a chair and a house. As
students become familiar with the mouse, more complex items are
introduced such as basic travel routes, the school map, and
teacher created graphics. These diagrams can be created using
almost any drawing program The teacher can then label various
parts of the map so the student can obtain an audio description
at key points. Games enhance the learning process. The built-in
games include moving along a pathway with tactile and audio
feedback, centering the mouse cursor and firing at a target, and
"shooting down" enemy aircraft. The Virtouch tactile mouse has
enhanced student learning in the following areas:
- spatial relationships (up, down, left, right, intersect,
under, and over),
- understanding basic tactile symbols for common objects
(chair, house, face, square, circle, triangle),
- helped provide a tool for learning mobility routes (maps of
the school and BART train system)
- helped provide access to graphics on the computer (atoms,
plant and animal cells, graphs and charts).
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