Pictorial Foreground/Background Reversal Reduces Tactual Recognition by Blind Subjects

Abstract

In touch as in vision a line depicting a foreground-background relation can appear to reverse, so the foreground and background exchange positions. Such a perceived change diminishes recognition by blind subjects of the physically constant haptic display. Pictorial impressions from a flat haptic display vary in a manner similar to the pictorial impressions of spatial layout from a visual display.