Equipment for the perception of object with flexible shape by visually impaired persons

Abstract

There is a special type of objects for blind and visually impaired people. These are objects with a soft surface (skin, ball, bread, umbrella). If the shape of object is hard and constant, to understand its physical properties simply touching is enough. But when it comes to observe objects with soft surface or objects with variable shape, there also need to observe it visually in addition to the touch experience. In this case, the subject must perform strong perception actions on the object by hand. Object changes its shape. Subjects observes this changes, its amplitude and direction (J. Piaget, J. Gibson, V. Zaparojec). At this point, visually impaired people struggle with difficulties of perception.