# 2019

Designing Tactile Schematics

About

A tactile tool to build electronics

Designing Tactile Schematics provides science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) learning materials to blind and low-vision designers and makers. Schematics are drawings of the relationships between components in an electronic device, and are used to build circuits. They are an integral part to learning electronics, and allow users to build devices from torches to laptops. The project developed design standards and best practices for converting visual schematics to tactile ones, creating raised images that could be read by touch. A book of over fifty tactile schematics has been developed, allowing greater access and diversity within maker culture.

Lauren Race

New York University (NYU)
Lauren Race designs experiences through a human-centered lens, particularly focused within accessibility and assistive technology. She sees accessibility as the heart of what we do as designers since it’s not usable if it’s not accessible. She applied the participatory design method, with her art and design foundation of art direction, storytelling, and concept development, to develop an auditory social media platform built for a screen reader and a year-long thesis project on how to design tactile schematics. She holds a BFA in Communications Design and Art History, as well as an MPS from New York University’s Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP). She is currently a Research Fellow at New York University, focusing on design research for accessibility.more
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