The conception of a tactile Internet : from analysing the use of a perceptual supplementation device (TACTOS) to the elaboration of the INTERTACT project

Loïc Deschamps (1) , Katia Rovira (2) , Charles Lenay (1) , Olivier Gapenne (1)

1 COSTECH - Connaissance Organisation et Systèmes TECHniques
2 PSY-NCA - Psychologie et Neurosciences de la Cognition et de l'affectivité

The Tactos system of perceptual supplementation allows for tactile reading of shapes and spatial organisation of objects on computer screens. The aim of the present project is to extend the use of this device to situations of distal tactile interaction via the Internet network. Here we report the initial results of an analysis of patterns of use in context, in order to test the material and functional possibilities provided by this extension. Two blind adolescents, with different levels of expertise in using Tactos, have tested various technical possibilities and various contents. It appears that the use of new effectors is possible if a certain level of proficiency has been reached in the use of the stylus and the graphic tablet. Similarly, the question of recourse to bimodality is posed in order to improve the acquisition of reference points in space. Finally, the passage to a “group” situation seems to be necessary for the use of the device to give rise to shared meanings and the creation of norms.

Mots clés: Visual deficiency; Tactile perception; Perceptual supplementation; Interactive design

Domaines: Psychologie; Psychologie

Loïc Deschamps, Katia Rovira, Charles Lenay, Olivier Gapenne. The conception of a tactile Internet : from analysing the use of a perceptual supplementation device (TACTOS) to the elaboration of the INTERTACT project. CVHI-09, Conference and workshop on assistive technology for people with Visual and Hearing Impairments, Past Successes and Future Challenges, M.A. Hersh, Apr 2009, Wroclaw, Poland. ⟨hal-02371757⟩