Dynamic refreshable tactile graphics for use in digital source files

Now that graphics can be displayed on the latest generation of tactile displays, the delivery of tactile images with digital source files should be supported.

Problem statement: Extended descriptions (long descriptions) of graphics are now being distributed as part of the digital source files. These are primarily text, tables, or MathML. It should be possible to also provide a tactile graphic that could be used by a person with one of the new tactile displays used for presenting graphics. However, there is no standard for the delivery of these graphic files.

Today there are two recommended techniques for including extended descriptions: Use the "details" element below an image to enclose the extended description, or place a link below an image to the extended description somewhere in the digital version.

For example, using the details element, the extended description is placed in side the details. The screen reader announces on the image, "has details" and the details element can be expanded to present the extended description. The same technique could be used to enclose a tactile image. We believe this could be done today with an SVG, but we do not know if an SVG would be suitable for tactile graphics. Most certainly guidelines would be needed to support whatever tactile graphic file format is identified or developed for these devices.