The study investigated ways of increasing reading rates by nine blind adults using the Optacon (Optical to Tactile Converter), a portable reading aid for the blind that converts the image of the printed letter into a pattern of vibrating rods. Ss' reading rates were examined when using instructional materials emphasizing linguistic structure, the…

A feasibility and planning study was conducted on braille code problems in five areas. The areas were textbook format, math and science, music notation, computer notation, and maps, charts, and diagrams. Problems in each of the areas were identified and defined by committees of experts. The problems were analysed and a determination was made of…

The author, who is congenitally blind, describes two training programs with a Tactile Vision Substitution System, including a mobile version of the device. (Author)

Two experimental tactile political map designs were evaluated with 72 blind braille reading students (grades 4-12). (Author/CL)

Thirty-seven blind students (in grades 2, 3, and 4) were involved in a study to evaluate the tactile ruler familiarization unit (three vacuum-formed plastic sheets illustrating English, Metric, and English-Metric measurement units). (SBH)

Presented is a report on the 5-year project to develop the Optacon, an electronic device which allows the blind individual to read ordinary printed matter directly and independently. Chapter (1) provides and introduction and overview of the Optacon Project. Summarized in Chapter (2) is a chronological account of the Optacon Project which traces…

The annual report of the Educational Research, Development, and Reference Group at the American Printing House for the Blind summarizes research and development activities conducted during fiscal year 1972 and those planned for fiscal year 1973. Reviewed is progress on individual projects in five major areas: aural study systems for the visually…

Seventy-two blind braille students in grades 4 through 12 were given map reading tasks on tactile pseudomaps which either contained texture (noisy map) or didn't (noise-free map). (DB)

Evaluated was whether primary level visually handicapped tactile learners could successfully manipulate and discriminate the component parts of an instructional aid to introduce fractional parts of wholes. (DB)

A study was conducted to determine if 61 visually handicapped students in grades 2-4 could discriminate the textures appearing on a cell model, could locate and identify the cross-sectional cell layers, and could manipulate the pull-apart features of the cell model. (SB)

A study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of three-dimensional plastic models in teaching 71 visually handicapped students (in grades 1-3) to discriminate major body parts of insects, spiders, and earthworms. (SBH)

The National Museum of Natural History of the Smithsonian Institution undertook a research project to determine what could be done to enable visually handicapped persons to benefit from the museum's resources. (Author)