Learning graphical math concepts is challenging for blind children who cannot see the white board. Back when vibrating tablets were a brand new thing, we worked to incorporate them into education to help blind kids “see” graphical math concepts through their fingers. The above video shows how we partnered with local schools to conduct studies on this topic. Jenna Gorlewicz, who did this work as a Ph.D. student is now a professor at Saint Louis University and is Associate Dean for Research and Innovation. She also leads an NSF Convergence Accelerator project.

Related Publications:

1. J. L. Gorlewicz, J. Burgner, T. J. Withrow, and R. J. Webster, III, “Initial Experiences Using Vibratory Touchscreens to Display Graphical Math Concepts to Students with Visual Impairments”, Journal of Special Education Technology, vol. 29, no. 2, pp. 17-26, 2014.

2. R. J. Webster, III, T. E. Murphy, L. N. Verner, and A. M. Okamura, “A Novel Two-Dimensional Tactile Slip Display: Design, Kinematics, and Perceptual Experiments”, ACM Transactions on Applied Perception, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 150-165, 2005.

3. J. L. Toennies, J. Burgner, T. J. Withrow, and R. J. Webster, III, “Toward Haptic/Aural Touchscreen Display of Graphical Mathematics for the Education of Blind Students”, in World Haptics Conference, 2011, pp. 373-378.

4. J. L. Gorlewicz and R. J. Webster, III, “The Promise of Haptics in Teaching Math to the Blind”, NSF Advocacy Day, Washington D.C. 2012.

5. J. L. Toennies, J. Burgner, T. J. Withrow, and R. J. Webster, III, “Toward Haptic/Aural Touchscreen Display of Graphical Mathematics for the Education of Blind Students”, World Haptics Conference. 2011.

6. J. L. Gorlewicz, “The Efficacy of Surface Haptics and Force Feedback in Education”. Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 2013.