{A graphical user interface for \TikZ}
{Kaveh Bazargan}
{\TikZ\ is a powerful vector graphics program. The capabilities are far higher
than those of any interactive graphics program, e.g.\ Adobe Illustrator. The
fact that \TikZ\ can be coded logically, keeping the structure of a graphic
intact has many advantages, including the generation of ``semantic'' \SVG\
output, allowing for better accessibility of graphics, e.g.\ for blind and
visually impaired readers. The main barrier against popular usage of \TikZ\
outside the \TeX\ community is that it is purely code driven, and has a steep
learning curve.

At River Valley we have a long term program to produce rich, semantic
illustrations that can be accessible to readers who are blind or visually
impaired. We have chosen \TikZ\ as the engine to generate these illustrations.

To make easier to create the diagrams in the first place, we have been
working on a graphical user interface (\acro{GUI}) to generate \TikZ\
code and to show its output in near real-time. The first implementation
addresses the relabelling existing illustrations (vector or bitmap)
using \TikZ. The system has the following advantages:

- Relabelling can be done as fast or faster than conventional methods

- Labels do not change size as figures are resized (similarly to Pinlabel)

- Labels are saved as text and can be spell-checked along with the main
text of a \TeX\ file

I will give a live demo of the software.
}