3D Printing Technology: A Unique Way of Making Hubble Space Telescope Images Accessible to Non-Visual Learners

[摘要] Astronomytraditionally is a visual science by which sighted people have contemplated thenight sky. Astronomy has also spurred the development of sophisticatedtelescopes and instruments, featuring capabilities that extend to wavelengthsbeyond the visible, to record images of celestial objects. While the scientificdata from telescopes is somewhat specialized and technical, astronomersroutinely process their data to produce visually appealing formats for thepublic at large and also widely contribute to education and outreach efforts.Astronomical data is treated through image processing techniques includingcolor and intensity choices that result in imagery that best represents thescience being investigated in its greatest aesthetic appeal. Makingsuch astronomical imagery accessible to those who are visually impaired hasbeen a long-standing challenge. Yet, it is recognized that such individualsshould have an opportunity to explore, discover, learn about, and contribute toastronomy and science in general. Considerable work has been done by educators,scientists, and artists to make science in general and astronomy in particularmore accessible through the use of various technologies, including lowresolution tactile images on thermoform and swell-touch pages based on thevisual materials. Recently, 3D printers have emerged as a new tool for makingreproductions of objects so that they can be useable andunderstood by a broader community of learners, including the visually impaired. Thisarticle outlines an innovative study that is aimed at taking images ofastronomical objects and translating them into a 3D tactile representation ofthe object’s structure and composition for engagement and discovery by a rangeof users and learning styles. Using the star cluster NGC 602 as observed by theHubble Space Telescope as the initial test case, we investigated processes forcreating appropriate digital file structures, tested tactile approaches, andutilized focus groups to determine usability of the products.

[学科分类] 眼科学

[关键词] Anisopteromalus calandrae;venom transcriptome;venom gland;ectoparasitoid;insect pests