VizTouch: automatically generated tactile visualizations of coordinate spaces

Visual mathematical concepts have long been challenging to access for people with limited or no vision. Given that functions and data plots are typically presented visually; there are few affordable and accessible solutions for individuals with limited or no vision to interpret data in this format. We have developed software that leverages new affordable 3D printing technology to rapidly and automatically generate tactile visualizations. In this paper, we describe development of the VizTouch software through a user-centered design process. We worked with six individuals with low or limited vision to understand the usefulness of 3D printed custom tactile visualizations, and their design. We describe how VizTouch can be used to make data visualizations in education, business, and entertainment accessible.