Introduction: Technological advances have introduced three-dimensional (3-D) printing as an option for creating tactile maps for people with visual impairments (that is, those who are blind or have low vision), diversifying the types of map products that are available. At the same time, it presents a challenge to map makers to implement designs…

A framework for studying individual variation in tactile map reading is offered and a set of research guidelines suggested. It is argued that the reading process may be viewed as a many-leveled set of skills viewed from an information processing rather than a psychometric perspective. Individual variations are studied and classified. (Author/PB)