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How do multi-modal data representations (including visualizations, descriptions, and tactile graphics) facilitate mixed-ability collaboration between blind and sighted scientists? new paper at IEEE VIS: vis.mit.edu/pubs/pointin...

vis.mit.eduPointing at Data Together: Establishing Common Ground with Multi-modal Data Representations in Blind/Sighted Collaboration | MIT Visualization GroupResearch on collaborative analytics has long recognized that data representations enable collaborative sensemaking by establishing a common point of reference. Yet research on visualization accessibil...

jonathan zong

@jonathanzong.com

To understand mixed-ability collaborative data analysis, I spent some time observing and talking with members of Bower Lab, an oceanography research lab at WHOI led by blind scientist Amy Bower.

27/10/26, 4:10 pm0 reposts0 likes

jonathan zong

@jonathanzong.com

We found that data representations provide shared ways to refer to data and direct collaborators' attention. These linguistic and social affordances help scientists establish common ground (a shared understanding of the data they're analyzing).

jonathan zong

@jonathanzong.com

This suggests reframing visualization accessibility as effective bidirectional communication, not just individual access to data. Further, how might we design multimodal representations that distribute these communicative affordances equally across visual and non-visual modalities?

jonathan zong

@jonathanzong.com

I will be at IEEE VIS in Boston presenting this work on Tue Nov 10th. I'll also be at the AccessViz workshop on the 9th presenting updates to Olli. Also, I'm recruiting PhD students! data-and-design.org/recruiting/phd

data-and-design.orgRecruiting Ph.D. Students for Fall 2027We are an interdisciplinary research group at the University of Colorado Boulder that uses design to understand and reimagine socio-technical systems.