•Do touch-and-feel features affect infants’ learning of new words from picture books?•We taught infants a new word from a touch-and-feel book vs. a standard book.•Only infants in the standard book ...condition learned the word.•However, they failed to generalize the word to other exemplars beyond the page.•Learning words from picture books is challenging at this age, and texture further hinders this.
Little is known about the role of book features in infant word learning from picture books. We conducted a preregistered study to assess the role of touch-and-feel features in infants’ ability to learn new words from picture books. A total of 48 infants (Mage = 16.75 months, SD = 1.85) were assigned to a touch-and-feel picture-book condition or a standard picture-book condition (no touch-and-feel features) and were taught a novel label for an unfamiliar animal by the researcher during a book-reading session. Infants were then tested on their ability to recognize the label (i.e., choose the target from a choice of two pictures on hearing it named) and to generalize this knowledge to other types of pictures and real-world objects (scale model animals and stuffed animals). Infants in the no touch-and-feel condition performed above chance when choosing the target picture, whereas infants in the touch-and-feel condition did not. Infants in both conditions failed to generalize this knowledge to other pictures and objects. This study extends our knowledge about the role of tactile features in infant word learning from picture books. Although manipulative features like touch-and-feel patches might be engaging for infants, they may detract from learning. Depending on the purpose of the activity, parents and practitioners might find it useful to consider such book features when selecting books to read with their infants.
This paper introduces a novel concept on reading assistive technologies for the blind/visually impaired: the TactoBook, a system that is able to translate entire text books to Braille code and to ...reproduce them in portable electronic touch stimulation devices. The TactoBook consists of a computer-based system that translates fast and automatically any text book into Braille. The Braille version of the book is then stored in a USB memory drive which is later inserted and reproduced in a compact, lightweight and highly-portable tactile display. The user freely explores the information displayed and is able to read comfortably the book without carrying the burdensome tactile print one.
Making eBooks accessible to blind Braille readers Velazquez, R.; Preza, E.; Hernandez, H.
2008 IEEE International Workshop on Haptic Audio visual Environments and Games,
2008-Oct.
Conference Proceeding
This paper presents the design and preliminary prototype of the TactoBook, a novel reading assistive device for the blind that is able to reproduce electronic books (eBooks) in portable electronic ...tactile displays. The TactoBook consists of a computer-based system that translates fast and automatically any eBook into Braille. The Braille version of the eBook is then stored in a USB memory drive which is later inserted and reproduced in a compact, lightweight and highly-portable tactile display. Braille readers can access published information immediately and store multiple eBooks in the same device without carrying the burdensome tactile print versions.
Illustrations in storybooks not only provide a source of interest for children but also support language development and literacy skills. A better understanding of how to communicate stories through ...tactile illustrations is a central issue for practitioners and researchers who work with visually impaired children. Recognizing tactile illustrations implies precisely perceiving the shapes and being able to associate meaning with these representations. This study focused on the way tactile pictures were haptically explored by visually impaired children during joint book reading. The aim was to determine how the task and the type of illustrations promoted haptic exploration. Children seemed to be more active and used more often a procedure that relied on following the contours of the shapes, when they have to find the meaning of the pictures than when the meaning was given to them through reading. The 3D illustrations led to the use of a wider variety of exploratory procedures than the 2D illustrations. The adult guidance also influenced the way the children explored tactile illustrations.
This research study presents an interactive Tactile book Framework designed to address the need for accessible learning and entertainment materials for the visually impaired community. The Framework ...utilizes a combination of tactile elements, audio descriptions, and Braille characters to create an immersive and engaging learning experience. Key features include a modular design for creating different book types, smart battery management, and interactive activities to reinforce learning. A proof-of-concept designing with three books (story and learning) demonstrates the Framework's potential to enhance Accessibility and promote active engagement for visually impaired individuals. This study discusses about the proposed framework's functionalities, and potential applications, highlighting its contribution to inclusive education and presents an evaluation of the proposed framework, including usability testing results and discusses potential applications and future work. In addition, the study includes insightful user feedback that highlights the beneficial effects of the Framework on the educational path of visually impaired individuals and provides personal insights into their experiences. This proposed framework proves to be a crucial tool in dosing educational gaps and enabling visually impaired people to participate in engaging and stimulating learning activities. The interactive Tactile book Framework has the potential to significantly improve educational opportunities and enhance the learning experiences of individuals with visual impairments.
