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Re: Accessibility and geographical maps

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From: COLLIER, Jason
Date: Jan 22, 2013 10:24PM


Thanks Birkir,

I like your idea of presenting the top 5 or so stats - maybe add a note to call someone in the department for further info if required.

I was also thinking that since the information for some maps is based on table data, that maybe breaking the table into smaller tables and using them as alternate sources might work.

I'll bring up the feedback maps idea at our next meeting. This could be the ideal solution if it's not too complicated or costly :)

Thanks again!

Jason
Tel: +61 8 9222 3070
ext 23070


-----Original Message-----
From: <EMAIL REMOVED> [mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ] On Behalf Of Birkir R. Gunnarsson
Sent: Monday, 21 January 2013 8:43 PM
To: WebAIM Discussion List
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Accessibility and geographical maps

Hi Jason

I am not sure what solutions have generally been provided mind, but the emphasis for making maps and other graphs accessible lies in the SVG format.
There is a lot of work going on with respect to creating tactile/auditory feedback maps (see, for instance, http://www.viewplus.com/products/software/hands-on-learning/
There is also on-going work to translate SVG graphs into sound (though it would probably not work so well for maps).
I am not sure to what extent you could convert large sets of existing data into maps, nor how useful they would be to the end users, but the path towards multi-sensory exploration of graphs definitely seems to go through SVG.
Also it is,of course, important to use the text to express as much relevant information as possible to the end-users (add stats or point out the locations where x y and z are found in text, at lesat the top, may be, 5 or so, not just refer to the map for all info).
May be some other folkshave a better idea, and I will be watching this thread with interest myself, but this is a start.
Cheers
-Birkir


On 1/20/13, COLLIER, Jason < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Where I work we have lots of geographical maps that contain a lot of data.
> Does anyone know about best practices for providing an alternative
> format for maps?
>
> Any information would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Jason Collier
> Website Project Officer. Communications and Marketing Department of
> Mines and Petroleum
> 100 Plain Street, East Perth, WA, 6004
> Postal: 100 Plain Street, East Perth, WA, 6004 Tel +61 8 9222 3070
> <EMAIL REMOVED> <mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> >
> www.dmp.wa.gov.au<;http://www.dmp.wa.gov.au/>;
>
>
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