Photo of 3D printed tactile Faceted Line Chart
3D printed tactile model of the Faceted Line Chart
Sighted version of the tactile Faceted Line Chart
Sighted version of the tactile Faceted Line Chart

Faceted Line Chart Tactile Chart Exploration Instructions

Follow these instructions to explore the tactile model of a Faceted Line Chart.

Step 1: Orienting the Chart

  • Locate the cut corner at the top-right of the board.
    • Position the chart so this corner remains at the top-right.
  • On the back, there are two stickers:
    • A smaller square label near the cut corner contains a QR code. Scanning it with your phone will take you to a companion website.
    • A larger rectangular label provides a labeled version of the chart.

Step 2: Introduction to the Faceted Line Chart

  • This tactile model represents a Faceted Line Chart, which visualizes trends in multiple related datasets.
  • Move your hand to the top-left corner to feel the title: "Faceted Line Chart."
  • Explore the board to get an overview. The chart is located on the center of the board.
  • The data:
    This faceted line chart visualizes weather trends in Austin, Texas, focusing on four variables:
    • Average Temperature (°F)
    • Average Wind Speed (mph)
    • Average Humidity (%)
    • Total Precipitation (inches)
  • Chart Structure:
    • The plot consists of four line charts, stacked vertically. Each chart represents one variable.
    • All charts share the same X-axis (at the bottom) but have their own Y-axis (on the right).
    • The layout can be divided into three vertical sections:
      • Left: Braille labels indicating variable names and units.
      • Middle: The embossed area chart for each variable.
      • Right: The Y-axis with tick marks showing the scale for that variable.

Step 3: Exploring the Faceted Line Chart

  • Variable Names and Units
    • Place your hand on the left side of the board and move vertically.
    • You will feel the Braille labels for each variable. Each variable has two parts:
      • A larger rectangular block containing the variable name
      • A smaller rectangular block containing the units
    • The variables listed from top to bottom are:
      • Average Temperature (F)
      • Average Wind Speed (mph)
      • Average Humidity (%)
      • Total Precipitation (inches)
  • Exploring the X-Axis
    • Locate the bottom of the plot to find the shared X-axis.
    • At the bottom of the plot, you will feel the Braille labels for the X-axis: "August".
    • Move your hand horizontally along this axis, which represents the days of the month.
      • Tick marks are evenly spaced.
      • Longer tick marks indicate intervals of 5 or 10 days.
  • Exploring an Example Section: Total Precipitation (Bottom Section)
    • Start at the bottom section, which represents Total Precipitation (inches).
    • Move to the rightmost corner, where the X-axis and Y-axis intersect.
    • Trace the Y-axis vertically upwards; the scale ranges from 0 to 2.4 inches.
    • Return to the X-axis and move your hand to the left to start tracing the curve.
    • Horizontally trace the area curve from left to right:
      • Initially, there is no curve (no rainfall for the first half of the month).
      • Around the middle of the month, you will feel a large peak, indicating the maximum rainfall.
      • Beyond the peak, smaller bumps represent minor rainfall later in the month.
    • While tracing the curve, refer to the Y-axis for rainfall amounts and the X-axis for the corresponding dates.
  • Exploring the Other Variables
    • Average Humidity (%):
      • Move your hand one section up to find the humidity plot.
      • Locate the Braille label on the left: "Average Humidity (%)."
      • Trace the curve of the area:
        • Humidity is generally high and stable.
        • A slight peak occurs around the middle of the month.
      • Compare this peak with the precipitation section below; you will notice a rainfall event corresponds to increased humidity.
    • Average Wind Speed (mph):
      • Move your hand one section up to the wind speed plot.
      • Locate the Braille label on the left: "Average Wind Speed (mph)."
      • Trace the curve:
        • You will feel periodic peaks and valleys, indicating fluctuations in wind speed.
    • Average Temperature (°F):
      • Move to the top section of the plot.
      • Locate the Braille label on the left: "Average Temperature (F)."
      • Trace the curve:
        • Temperature remains stable throughout the month, hovering around 85°F.
        • Even during the mid-month rainfall, temperature changes only slightly, indicating minimal impact.
  • Comparison Between Variables
    • To compare variables at a specific time, trace vertically across the plots. The vertical grid lines can help you align the plots.
    • For example, during the mid-month rainfall, compare the humidity and precipitation peaks while noting the stable temperature.

Recap

  • X-Axis: Represents days of the month (at the bottom), shared by all line plots.
  • Y-Axis: Represents the scale for each variable (on the right side of each plot).
  • Faceted Areas: Show trends for four weather variables:
    • Top: Average Temperature.
    • Second: Average Wind Speed.
    • Third: Average Humidity.
    • Bottom: Total Precipitation.
  • Exploration Tips:
    • Trace horizontally to observe trends for a single variable.
    • Trace vertically to compare different variables at the same time.