The Mercator Environment: A Nonvisual Interface to X Windows and Unix Workstations

Abstract

User interfaces to computer workstations are heavily dependent on visual information. These Graphical User Interfaces, commonly found on powerful desktop computers, are almost completely inaccessible to blind and visually impaired individuals. In order to make these types of computers accessible to non-sighted users, it will be necessary to develop a new interface which replaces the visual communication with audio and tactile communication. This paper describes the Mercator Environment--an auditory and tactile interface to X Windows and Unix workstations designed for the visually impaired.