tactile map features needed

[Janina Sajka]

An Open Email To Amy:

Dear Amy:

Your solicitation for design requirements for software to produce
tactile maps is admirable. We applaud you for asking the community of
users what there needs are before developing your software.

However, before answering your survey, I would like to ask U. of Oregon
a question. Your solicitation wasposted to an email list for persons who
are blind and use Linux. May we infer from this that your software will
run on Linux, and in particular from the Linux console? More
importantly, will your software be released with an open source license
such as the GPL?

Certainly an application for generating tactile maps of varying detail
would be welcome. However, we are keenly aware that all software is not
created equal. We can cite a long history of publically funded projects
which have produced software that can only be used in proprietary
environments. If your software will be developed in an open environment,
I would expect you will receive solid interest and technical feedback
from this community. If not, well then we probably aren't interested.

University of Oregon writes:
> This is a second request for survey responses. In addition to OM 
> instructors, this time we are seeking input from anyone who is blind or 
> partially sighted as well as anyone who makes or wants to be able to 
> easily make tactile maps. But we also seek input from people who 
> navigate or teach navigation (formally or informally – i.e. parents) 
> without tactile maps.
> 
> We have received funding from the National Science Foundation (grant 
> #HRD-0533251) to create *Tactile Mapping Software* that will be 
> available as a FREE download to teachers, parents, or anyone who wants 
> to use it. This project is entirely NON-profit and the resulting 
> software will only be as useful as the input we receive from you.
> 
> This survey will help us identify features that may be important to 
> symbolize and include in the software. We ask that you answer three 
> short questions, which should take approximately 5 minutes. Please send 
> to our email (tacmaps at uoregon.edu <mailto:tacmaps at uoregon.edu>). Also, 
> please forward this survey to anyone who may be interested in 
> participating. Thank You!
> 
> If you do not wish to participate, simply discard the questionnaire. 
> Responses will be completely anonymous; your name will not appear 
> anywhere on the survey. Completing and returning the questionnaire 
> constitutes your consent to participate.
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Please Answer the Following Questions:
> 
>   1. List *any and all* environmental features necessary for
>      blind/partially sighted navigation, especially what KIND of landmarks.
> 
>   2. If you make maps, list your method(s) of tactile map production
>      (swell paper, TIGER embosser, collage…). If you use more than one,
>      indicate percentage of use of each method.
> 
>   3. If you make maps, what is your position or reason for producing
>      tactile maps?
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Keep this letter for your records. If you have any questions regarding 
> the research, contact Amy Lobben, Department of Geography, University of 
> Oregon, 541-346-4566. If you have any questions regarding your rights as 
> a research subject, please contact the Office of Human Subjects 
> Compliance at the University of Oregon at (541) 346-2510. Thank you 
> again for your help.
> 
> For more information on this project, please contact Amy Lobben at 
> tacmaps at uoregon.edu <mailto:tacmaps at uoregon.edu>
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Blinux-list mailing list
> Blinux-list at redhat.com
> https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list

-- 

Janina Sajka				Phone: +1.240.715.1272
Partner, Capital Accessibility LLC	http://www.CapitalAccessibility.Com

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janina at freestandards.org		http://a11y.org