Cognitive issues in information visualisation design for interaction for the visually impaired

This paper reports on the findings of a study on improving interaction design for visually impaired students, focusing upon the cognitive criteria for information visualisation.

Interaction design for teaching visually impaired students

This paper reports on the findings for a study on improving interaction design for teaching visually impaired students. The crux of the problem is the ability to draw and understand diagrams. The cognitive issues are often underestimated with insufficient attention being given to the use of metaphors, etc. and "one size fits all solutions" are often the norm. The findings of the original seed funded project have led to design criteria and to an application for a large scale project, to produce generic tools and to enable multi-modal teaching and learning, with connotations for the mentally as well as physically impaired.

Coping, conversation tactics and marital interaction in persons with acquired profound hearing loss (APHL): correlates of distress

This study investigated coping strategies, conversation tactics, and marital interaction in acquired profound hearing loss (APHL) and compared emotionally stable (n = 15) and emotionally distressed (n = 7) participants. Nominated family members were assessed on most measures. Comparisons were also made in the subgroup of married participants. A combined distress criterion was derived from scores on standardized measures of anxiety, depression, hearing handicap, and post-traumatic stress. Groups were compared on the Ways-of-Coping Checklist, a newly devised measure of conversation tactics, and on the Couple Behaviour Report. It was found that distressed APHL participants were more likely to cope through avoidance, self-blame, and wishful thinking, and they used more avoidant tactics in conversation. The coping profile of family members did not differentiate distress groups. However, there was some indication of greater employment of coercive tactics by family members of distressed participants. The results are consistent with the view that the coping style of a person with APHL and the nature of their conversational interactions with family members contribute to their level of distress. Implications for audiological rehabilitation are discussed.