Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
information to suit the cognitive needs of the blind or visually-impaired
individual transiting across our local university campus. Refinements to
the geoparsing tool will include improved text recognition and functional
interpretation of distance and direction. Other technologies to incorporate
are text to voice web services similar to Google Voice functionality. Addi-
tional goals with extensibility into broader areas of user- contributed geo-
graphic information include an assessment of accuracy.
Volunteered geographic information and participation from end-user
communities may have a significantly transformative effect on GIS and
applications oriented toward accessibility. As end-users become more
inclined to transform their observations into VGI contributions, visually-
impaired and blind individuals will benefit. We hope to provide significant
contributions toward this evolving process and look forward to future
developments.
Abbreviations
AAG: Association of American Geographers
GeoRSS: Geographic Really Simple Syndication
GIS: Geographic Information System
GML: Geographic Markup Language
GMU: George Mason University
GNIS: Geographic Names Information System
GPS: Global positioning System
ICA: International Cartographic Association
OCX: Object Linking and Embedding Control Extension
USGS: United States Geological Survey
VB: Visual Basic
VGI: volunteered geographic information
XML: eXtensible Markup Language
References
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Ames DP, Michaelis C, Anselmo A, Chen L, Dunsford H (2008) MapWindow GIS. In: Shekhar
S, Hui X (ed) Encyclopedia of GIS. Springer, New York
Coulson M, Riger M, Wheate R (1991) Progress in creating tactile maps from Geographic
Information Systems output. In: Mapping the Nations, 15th Conference and 9th General
