Tactile exploration is essential for blind and low vision (BLV) individuals to understand objects and spaces. Yet little is known about how camera-based devices can support hand-centric exploration: tactilely examining exhibits while inquiring about and processing information. We investigate a finger-worn ring camera that captures images from the palm side while allowing tactile exploration, comparing it with hand-centered smartphones. We conducted a Wizard-of-Oz study with 11 BLV participants in a science museum. Results showed that the ring camera supported effective bimanual strategies: exploring with both hands, lifting the camera-worn hand while keeping the other as an anchor during inquiry, and resuming bimanual touch for information processing. In contrast, smartphones led to effortful, fragmented exploration. Building on these findings, we developed an interactive system and evaluated its reliability and practicality with 6 BLV participants. We contribute insights and design implications for wearable camera systems that augment tactile exploration in real-world settings.

Tactile picture books, which incorporate transparent embossed tactile graphics directly onto illustrations, allow visually impaired individuals to enjoy picture books.However, the complexity of converting illustrations into tactile graphics while preserving the original context limits the availability of such books.This study explores the potential of Generative AI (GenAI) by evaluating tactile graphics produced through a synergistic process involving GenAI and the expertise of tactile graphic designers, comparing them with graphics created using conventional methods.We conducted a comparative study with two totally blind participants, each with over 40 years of experience supervising tactile picture books, evaluating seven tactile graphics created by both approaches.Results revealed that some GenAI-generated graphics were rated as highly as conventionally produced graphics in terms of tactile interpretability and informative effectiveness.However, challenges were also identified in some GenAI outputs, such as extremely thin lines or unclear overlapping elements.Our findings suggest that while GenAI-assisted tactile graphics have the potential to generate contextually understandable illustrations through touch, a humanin-the-loop approach remains essential to address the unique design requirements of tactile perception.

Figure 1: From left to right: (a) the original website, (b) Option 1 (Regenerated HTML), and (c) Option 2 (Reorganized HTML Tags).Option 1 is generated using a GenAI-powered extension that rewrites the HTML to enhance accessibility, while Option 2 reorganizes the original HTML tags to address accessibility issues without altering the visual design.This example highlights the changes made in both versions compared to the original website.Both versions simplify navigation by removing single-category headings, reducing clutter and minimizing fatigue for screen reader users.

Visually impaired individuals often face challenges related to physical inactivity, stemming from limited accessibility to sports activities. While assistive technologies and adaptive sports have made progress, high-intensity contact sports remain largely inaccessible. This paper presents an approach to improve the accessibility of kickboxing for visually impaired individuals. We prioritize simple, immediate solutions that maximize the use of residual vision, diverging from conventional assistive technologies that rely on auditory or tactile feedback. Employing a participatory design methodology, we involved visually impaired individuals throughout the development process of specialized kickboxing equipment. This approach enabled us to address user-specific needs and challenges directly. Our research contributes to expanding sports participation opportunities for the visually impaired and fostering a more inclusive sports environment. We detail the development process of our adaptive kickboxing equipment and discuss its effectiveness in enhancing the sports experience for visually impaired individuals.

Tactile interfaces such as embossment facilitate information transfer through touch in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). Traditional embossing methods, while enabling the creation of intricate patterns, face limitations due to mold reliance and material thickness restrictions, hindering bespoke embossment creation. In this study, we propose High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) as an alternative technique to produce tailored embossed designs on acrylic without the need for traditional molds. We uncover specific HIFU parameters, such as amplitude, irradiation time, and distance that directly impact essential qualities of embossment including embossment height, transparency, and line generation. Additionally, the capability of embossing without the use of molds expands the applications for quick prototyping and customization of embossed designs within HCI. Furthermore, we introduce a user interface developed to streamline the design and application of customizable tactile graphics using HIFU, aimed at non-expert users. Preliminary user studies reveal positive feedback on the interface’s intuitiveness and the quality of the HIFU embossment. Our study indicates that HIFU embossment presents a viable approach for creating embossed features in interactive systems, with the potential to offer methods for personal customization in the design of tactile materials.