Humancomputer interaction - Assignment Example

The concept for HCI for visually Impaired People The concept for HCI for visually Impaired People Regardless of the lack of visual contact, individuals with reduced sight acquire information from the immediate environment using the other perceptions, particularly touching and hearing. Through touching, visually impaired persons can perceive size, shape, position in space and texture among others. This process, in comparison with the visual perception, is much slower, harder, and ineffective though it allows the unsighted to have good understanding of the surroundings.

When researchers and computer engineers are faced with difficulties in conceptualized HCI for the blind, they apply the fact that every person forms mental model to sustain their reactions. The mental model encompasses operations that work in just like the computer. Most of the computer interfaces developed for visually impaired individuals are designed for those who have not lost their sight completely. Many HCI use several other types of feedback such as haptic and tactile feedback system. However, these interfaces are normally supplemental to the visual communication.

As such, it is essential to note that those who have not lost their sight completely will be in an enhanced position to access several computer applications based on the haptic and tactile system, Clifford (2008).When interacting with the computer, some of the critical movements very useful include movement aside (Fig. 1a), pressure (Fig. 1b), static contact (Fig. 1c) and encircle and follow object contour exploration procedures Individuals with no sight or with reduced sight use these model in an analogous way.

A significant constituent of the ability to create cognitive models for features in the physical world is closely correlated to the sense of feeling or touching. Touching is the only sense that allows simultaneous input and output interaction with the computer in two directions. The usual interfaces for normal people use only one direction.ReferenceClifford, C. (2008). Human-computer Interaction Design for Visually impaired. Guilford: Lyons Press.