Have you ever wondered how someone who is blind or has low-vision (BLV) knows which button is which on the microwave or the washing machine? For many, it is with the help of “Bump Dots!” Bump dots are silicone stickers that come in various shapes, sizes, and colors. They are a very common household item, used to keep cabinet doors and drawers from slamming, as non-slip feet on vases, etc. They can also be used as tactile cues on devices to create tactile, or touch, cues to make that device more tactilely accessible.   

The Eclipse Soundscapes (ES) team added clear bump dots of different shapes to the AudioMoth recording device to make it easier to find the important ports and the switch by feel. ES Data Collectors will use an AudioMoth device to record audio data, known as soundscapes, for 5 consecutive days during either the October 14, 2023 annular eclipse or the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse. Below you can learn more about where we added these bump dots so you can add some too if you purchased your own AudioMoth device!