Perceptualisation

A multi-sensory display of abstract information, inferred by Nesbitt to be a fundamentally human quality. Where visualisation presents abstract data through the visual design space (charts, graphs, maps), perceptualisation extends this to all sensory channels — sonic, haptic, and visual together. The concept is significant for accessibility because it frames the presentation of information as inherently multi-modal rather than visual-first. A truly perceptualised interface would convey data through whichever combination of design spaces is most effective for the individual user, rather than requiring adaptation from a visual original. Sonification (representing data as sound), tactile graphics, and haptic data displays are all forms of non-visual perceptualisation that remain underexplored in mainstream interface design.