Abstract
Research with the Tactile Vision Substitution System, a device that converts optical patterns into vibrotactile patterns for display against the back, has shown that a simple pattern, such as a letter, is more easily recognized when presented sequentially than when presented in entirety all at once. In recent work with the Optacon, another such device using the surface of the finger for display, Craig (Note 2) has found quite the opposite result over an extensive range of pattern durations. The present study shows that the superiority of sequential presentation can be obtained with the Optacon if letters considerably smaller than usual are displayed. Sequential presentation is advantageous when the pattern information essential for recognition exceeds the spatial bandwidth of the sensory surface, whether it be the finger, back, or other skin surface. In the normal usage of the Optacon, however, it appears that the spatial bandwidth of the finger suffices for the recognition of large roman letters.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
Reference Notes
Saida, S., Shimizu, Y., & Wake, T. Construction of small TVSS and optimal mode ofstimulus presentation. Paper presented at the Fourth Symposium on Sensory Substitution, Tokyo, Japan, November 1978.
Craig, J. C. Tactile letter recognition: Pattern duration and modes of pattern generation. Manuscript in preparation, 1980.
Kirman, J. H. Tactile pattern perception and tactile displays. Paper presented at the Conference on Interrelations of the Communicative Senses, Asilomar, California, September 1978.
References
Apkarian-Stielau, P., & Loomis, J. M. A comparison of tactile and blurred visual form perception. Perception & Psychophysics, 1975, 18, 362–368.
Beauchamp, K. L., Matheson, D. W., & Scadden, L. A. Effects of stimulus-change method on tactile-image recognition. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 1971, 33, 1067–1070.
Craig, J. C. Modes of vibrotactile pattern generation. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 1979, 6, 151–166.
Loomis, J. M. Tactile letter recognition under different modes of stimulus presentation. Perception & Psychophysics, 1974, 16, 401–408.
Sherrick, C. E. Cutaneous communication. In W. D. Neff (Ed.), Contributions to sensory physiology. New York: Academic Press, in press.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This work was supported by Grant 1 R01 NS15129 from NINCDS. The author thanks Pauline McNulty for her assistance.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Loomis, J.M. Interaction of display mode and character size in vibrotactile letter recognition. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 16, 385–387 (1980). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03329574
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03329574