Making Math Graphs More Accessible in Remote Learning: Using Sonification to Introduce Discontinuity in Calculus

Keita Ohshiro, Amy Hurst, Luke Dubois

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Math graphs need to be accessible to People with Visual Impairments (PVI). While tactile graphics are a common way for PVI to access math graphs, their use becomes complicated in remote learning. To make math graphs more accessible in remote education, we focused on sonification, the use of non-speech sound. In this study, we designed techniques of sonification of math graphs to introduce the concept of discontinuity in calculus to PVI. First, we conducted a remote interview with six participants to understand their experiences with math education using graphs. Based on these findings, we developed a series of sonifications of math graphs that we remotely evaluated with three participants from our initial interviews. Our findings reveal that sonification can intuitively convey simple patterns and trends in math graphs with a little practice, be useful to introduce the discontinuities, and be more effective with descriptions of the sound and graphs.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationASSETS 2021 - 23rd International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility
PublisherAssociation for Computing Machinery, Inc
ISBN (Electronic)9781450383066
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 17 2021
Event23rd International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility, ASSETS 2021 - Virtual, Online, United States
Duration: Oct 18 2021Oct 22 2021

Publication series

NameASSETS 2021 - 23rd International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility

Conference

Conference23rd International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility, ASSETS 2021
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityVirtual, Online
Period10/18/2110/22/21

Keywords

  • Mathematical graph
  • Sonification
  • Visual impairment

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Hardware and Architecture
  • Computer Graphics and Computer-Aided Design

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