Young Children and Tactile Images

Researchers from France have shown that the use of different materials with varied textures improves the recognition of tactile images by young people who are blind.  The results have been published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology Applied.   The researchers emphasize that early, regular use of tactile material by children who are blind is necessary to improve recognition through touch. They compared tactile image recognition using three techniques: raised lines, thermoform, and textures.  The results indicate that children who are blind are better able to recognize materials with different textures than other types of tactile graphics.  

For more information, see: Textured images help tactile recognition for the blind