This is the rst part of a two-part paper that motivates and evaluates a method for the automatic conversion of images from visual to tactile form. In this part, a broad-ranging background is provided in the areas of human factors, including the human sensory system, tactual perception and blindness, access technology for tactile graphics production, and image processing techniques and their appropriateness to tactile image creation. In Part II, this background is applied in the development of the TACTile Image Creation System (TACTICS), a prototype for an automatic visual-to-tactile translator. The results of an experimental evaluation are then presented and discussed, and possible future work in this area is outlined. Keywords| blindness, image processing, microcapsule paper, tactile graphics, tactile imaging

This is the second part of a two-part paper that develops a method for the automatic conversion of images from visual to tactile form. In Part I, a variety of topics were reviewed including issues in human factors, access technology for tactile graphics production, and image processing. In this part, the material presented in the rst part is used to motivate, develop and support the methods used in the development of a prototype visual-to-tactile translator called the TACTile Image Creation System (TACTICS). The speci c choices made in the design of the system are discussed and justi ed, including selection of software platform, tactile output format, tactile image creation procedure, aggregate image processing sequences used, and principles from the discipline of psychophysics. The results of four experiments on tactile image discrimination, identication and comprehension are reported and discussed, and future directions in this area are proposed. Keywords| blindness, image processing, microcapsule paper, tactile graphics, tactile imaging