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Re: Accesscibility of data visualizations

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From: Sean Murphy
Date: Feb 3, 2016 7:08PM

All charts are graphics. Excel is unique because Jaws for Windows uses the script language to interrogate the application script language environment (DOM). Thus it can extract the required information to tell the person that the Pie has 10% for x, 20% for y and 70% for Z as an example.

If an application doesn't provide this capability. Then it more then likely not work. Thus you have to rely on someone converting the diagram (chart) into a textual description diagram or using tactual diagram. The problem with both methods:


1. If textual described diagram, someone has to convert the information.
2. Tactual diagram can be produced on a graphic braille embosser (printer). If the chart/diagram contains a lot of visual elements to beautify the chart. Then this becomes noise to the braille reader.
3. the finger cannot read information at the same resolution as your eye's can.
4. If a person just sends the diagram to the graphic braille embosser without any modifications. Then you get what ever it is at what ever level of quality. I have done this in the past and found it not very useful without someone with sight converting it into a easier form.


It isn't impossible to do this via program means. The software or presented information on the web just has to have the code developed in a means where it can understand the raw data or objects used for the chart and present it in a manner that a person can understand. In other words, the program could translate the chart for the person. Example of a converted org chart:

CEO
—> CTO
—>—> I.T director
—>—> Development direct
—> CFO
—>—> Account team
—>—> purchase team
—>HR
—>—> training
—>—> talent retention
—> Sales
—>—> West USA
—>—> East USA
—>—> north USA
—>—> Southern USa
—>—> Canada
—>—> South America


Sean

> On 4 Feb 2016, at 10:26 am, Angela French < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
>
> I was wondering how screen readers make sense of these charts (reads them aloud). Some are so complex they challenged the sighted!
>
> Angela
>
>