ATLAS MS-ICTD student Abigale Stangl and
computer science team work on human-centered design strategies and tools
Abigale Stangl has taken on a unique challenge. How can
parents with visually impaired children create custom-tailored storybooks and
learning tools for their loved ones using 3D printing technologies? How can this
be done easily and affordably by parents with varying levels of computer
proficiency? What kinds of guidelines and best practices will serve families dealing
with these issues?
CU’s ATLAS Institute
ICTD Practicum
Stangl is conducting this research as part of her practicum
semester in the last portion of her academic program at CU’s ATLAS Institute Master
of Science in Information and Communication Technology for Development (MS-ICTD).
During the practicum, ICTD students turn classroom theory into on-site,
real-world practice.
They team up with private or public organizations, companies
and NGOs to work on solutions to various quality-of-life issues in communities located
around the world. Stangl teamed up
with Professor Tom Yeh and fellow graduate student Jeeeun Kim in the Sikuli Lab
of CU’s Department of Computer Science.
A Surprising Path
She came to this project from a surprising path: environmental
design and landscape architecture. Quite a leap, one might say. Perhaps.
However, the challenges she took on in her previous field
called on her to design and problem-solve across multiple disciplines – urban
design, horticulture, community relations, etc. Her proven ability to work
comfortably with a diverse set of specialties continues to serve her today in the
field of ICTD.
The People Part
There are multiple dimensions to this project. One of them is
people, of course – parents, children, teachers, developmental and behavioral
psychologists and computer scientists.
“As a cultural component of the work,” she explained, “I regularly
visit Denver’s Anchor Center (a preschool for visually impaired children) to
observe the ways small children play and learn. They range in age from several months
old to five years old. I learn a lot from seeing how teachers and parents
interact with the children.”
From this steady observation, Stangl gains insight into what
sorts of learning tools might best serve children and parents. One of her
insights appears to be a universal truth about learning.
Stories are
Fundamental
“We learn from stories and story telling. Stories are
fundamental. Just as parents of children (with fully functioning senses including
sight) enjoy the intimacy and connection of reading to their children with picture
books and storybooks, parents of visually impaired children have the same
desire to participate in their children’s lives.”
2D to 3D
Software Interface
Screen layout at left conceptualizes
what a 2D to 3D software package could look like. As its subject matter, Stengl features the classic children’s book “Good Night Moon.” The goal is for parents and teachers to be able to create 3D objects from existing 2D
children's books that visually impaired children will then be able to
explore, play with and learn from.
Stangl continued, “For the visually impaired, tactile
development is vital. Before children can learn to read (with Braille), their
sense of touch needs to be practiced, strengthened and heightened. This comes through the exercise and
exploration that tactile books provide. Of course, it’s not only about touch. It’s
about the understanding and ‘seeing’ of a greater world with all its
complexities and context that is made available through the window of touch.”
The Technology Part
As mentioned, the technology portion of the work is being developed
by a team of colleagues in the Sikuli Lab of CU’s Department of Computer
Science. Graduate students collaborating in the work include Jeeeun Kim who
contributes to the research by experimenting with software, hardware and a
variety of materials to fabricate tactile prototypes. (See below.)
Photo at right: Five textured layouts were fabricated by
computer science graduate student Jeeeun Kim. Each one could potentially
be used as materials for tactile storybooks. Clockwise from left: Plastic yellow layout shows a tactile illustration of a room interior, formed by a 3D printer; three executions of a diagram of an egg uses three materials: 1. Cut and folded blue paper; 2. Multi-layered
laser-cut wood; 3. Etched red plastic; sitting to the right of a pen, a transparent
plastic sheet becomes a base for raised forms that illustrate a room interior, made from a glue gun.
Several faculty members serve as principal investigators and senior advisors. All contribute to moving the research forward. One of Stangl’s computer science professors, Tom Yeh, proposed the project and ignited her curiosity about tactile perception and interface design for children with visual impairments.
Several faculty members serve as principal investigators and senior advisors. All contribute to moving the research forward. One of Stangl’s computer science professors, Tom Yeh, proposed the project and ignited her curiosity about tactile perception and interface design for children with visual impairments.
User-Centered Design
“I took a class with Dr. Yeh in human computer interaction
(HCI) and human centered computing. What I learned in class beautifully fit my
worldview and my goals – make sure projects are user-centered. The work must
begin and end with the needs of the user," Stengl continued.
Photo at left: At $2,000,
this MakerBot 3D printer represents a price breakthrough that could make it
possible for parents of visually impaired children to print their own tactile learning aids at home.
“Given my design background, I’ve seen how both
environmental and social information must be synthesized into solutions that
are sensitive to the needs of whoever you’re designing for – in this case – teachers, parents and their children.”
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Abigale Stangl and six
other ATLAS MS-ICTD students presented the work they completed
during their practicum semester on April 10th. Videos of their presentations will be available online.
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Link to ATLAS Institute’s MS-ICTD program:
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The writer of this article, Ira Liss, is ATLAS Institute's assistant director of communications and also a pianist, singer/songwriter and performing artist. See videos of his original work. Contact him here.
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