@inproceedings{KreimeierGoetzelmann2019, author = {Kreimeier, Julian and G{\"o}tzelmann, Timo}, title = {First Steps Towards Walk-In-Place Locomotion and Haptic Feedback in Virtual Reality for Visually Impaired}, series = {CHI EA '19: Extended Abstracts of the 2019 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems}, volume = {2019}, booktitle = {CHI EA '19: Extended Abstracts of the 2019 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems}, publisher = {ACM}, address = {New York, NY, USA}, isbn = {978-1-4503-5971-9}, doi = {10.1145/3290607.3312944}, pages = {1 -- 6}, year = {2019}, abstract = {This paper presents the first results on a user study in which people with visual impairments (PVI) explored a virtual environment (VE) by walking in a virtual reality (VR) treadmill. As recently suggested, we have now acquired first results from our feasibility study investigating this walk-in-place interaction. This represents a new, more intuitive way of for example virtually exploring unknown spaces in advance. Our prototype consists of off-the-shelf VR components (i.e., treadmill, headphones, glasses, and controller) providing a simplified white cane simulation and was tested by six visually impaired subjects. Our results indicate that this interaction is yet difficult, but promising and an important step to make VR more and better usable for PVIs. As an impact on the CHI community, we would like to make this research field known to a wider audience by sharing our intermediate results and suggestions for improvements, on some of which we are already working on.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{FeitlKreimeierGoetzelmann2022, author = {Feitl, Selina and Kreimeier, Julian and G{\"o}tzelmann, Timo}, title = {Accessible Electrostatic Surface Haptics: Towards an Interactive Audiotactile Map Interface for People With Visual Impairments}, series = {Proceedings of the 15th International Conference on PErvasive Technologies Related to Assistive Environments}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the 15th International Conference on PErvasive Technologies Related to Assistive Environments}, publisher = {ACM}, address = {New York, NY, USA}, doi = {10.1145/3529190.3534781}, pages = {522 -- 531}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Tactile models, such as floor plans of a familiar or unfamiliar environment, can be helpful for people with visual impairments to grasp and interpret spatial information. Such plans are usually fabricated physically in a time-consuming process and are not interactive. This paper suggests presenting tactile floor plans using surface haptic feedback on an electrostatic display to overcome these limitations. Besides audiohaptically exploring tactile floor plans, our prototype also allows for voice interaction and demonstrates the control of smart home devices in this context. The evaluation was conducted in two stages with eight participants with visual impairments: First, it was investigated how individual rooms can be identified and assigned with electrostatic tactile feedback over a common dot matrix display. Second, the generation of a mental map when exploring an interactive detailed floor plan with several rooms was evaluated. Our results show that electrostatic haptic feedback enables people with visual impairments to recognize and understand graphic elements like rooms and a floor plan. However, this entails significantly more time for exploration and a higher cognitive workload when compared to a comparable but more expensive dot matrix display, though spatial and semantic smart home contextual information can be added through a voice interface, such as "What is the room's name I am touching?" or "Turn on the power socket in this room." Our preliminary but innovative approach reveals the initial potential of electrostatic feedback for accessibility and aims to help situate the opportunities and challenges in this context for wider dissemination.}, language = {en} }