InTouch: Rethinking Annotation and Note-taking in Tactile Graphics and Visualizations

Abstract:

Annotation is an interaction technique that allows for the addition of textual or graphical context to data elements. When initiated by a user, the action of annotating can range from tagging data or text with labels, adding notes or highlights, to leaving explanatory comments to regions of interest. In traditional visualizations, annotation has been formally characterized and extensively studied as a technique to support sense-making, storytelling, and collaborative analysis. However, annotation in physical, non-visual media, specifically in tactile formats such as braille and tactile graphics, remains underexplored from the perspective of users who are blind or visually impaired. This position paper highlights the need to formally characterize annotation as an interaction technique in tactile modalities.
We summarize current practices in tactile annotation from the literature and practical scenarios from the community, through which we examine their limitations in terms of agency, precision, and collaborative support. This work contributes to a broader goal of making interactive visualization more inclusive by understanding and addressing accessibility at the level of interaction techniques, not just output formats.