Title: Comparative analysis of tactile sensitivity between blind, deaf and unimpaired people

Authors: Ilton L. Barbacena, Ana Carolina Oliveira Lima, Alessio T. Barros, Raimundo C.S. Freire, Jose R. Pereira

Addresses: Department of Electric Engineering, Federal Center of Technological Education of Paraiba, 720 Primeiro de maio Ave, Jaguaribe, Joao Pessoa, Paraiba, CEP 58.015-430, Brazil. ' Department of Electric Engineering, Foundation of Support to Research of the State of Amazonas, 3280 Mario Ypiranga Monteiro Ave, Parque Dez, Manaus, Amazonas, CEP:69057-002, Brazil. ' Department of Electric Engineering, Federal Center of Technological Education of Paraiba, 720 Primeiro de maio Ave, Jaguaribe, Joao Pessoa, Paraiba, CEP: 58.015-430, Brazil. ' Department of Electric Engineering, Federal University of Campina Grande, 882 Aprigio Veloso Ave, Universitario, Campina Grande, Paraiba, CEP: 58429-900, Brazil. ' Department of Mathematics, Federal University of Amazonas, Brazil 3000 General Rodrigo Octavio Jordao Ramos Ave, Campus Universitario, Coroado I, Manaus, Amazonas, CEP 69.077-000, Brazil

Abstract: This paper presents the methodological procedures and the results of a tactile sensitivity analysis to vibrotactile stimuli. The results were obtained through the analyses between the rightness mean while identifying the target frequency, among the following characteristics: visually and hearing impaired people as well as unimpaired ones; visually and hearing impaired men and women and unimpaired ones; visually and hearing impaired children, teenagers and adults as well as unimpaired ones; visually and hearing impaired people with congenital and acquired deficiency. This is an expanded version of a paper presented at the 3rd IEEE International Workshop on Medical Measurements and Applications, 9–10 May 2008, Ottawa, ON, Canada.

Keywords: tactile sensitivity analysis; psychophysical tests; Braille display; vibratile stimulator; deaf; blind; pitch; vibrotactile stimuli; visually impaired; hearing impaired; unimpaired.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAMC.2009.026862

International Journal of Advanced Media and Communication, 2009 Vol.3 No.1/2, pp.215 - 228

Published online: 27 Jun 2009 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article