Lviv clinical bulletin 2023, 1(41): 22-27

https://doi.org/10.25040/lkv2023.01.022

Classification and Ranking of Factors Affecting the Quality of Tactile Perception of L. Braille Font by Blind People

M. Havenko1, M. Labetska2, V. Korotka3

1Lviv Regional Clinical Hospital

2Ukrainian Academy of Printing

3Andrei Krupynskyi Lviv Medical Academy

Introduction. In the process of educational and work activities, blind people mostly use tactile sensitivity to perceive information, the presentation of which is mainly realized in a six-dot format according to the well-known Braille system. The problems related to the study of the processes of perception and reproduction of relief-dot font attracted the attention of many domestic and foreign scientists. The effectiveness of perception and the durability of the use of L. Braille images depends on the nature of the cognitive interaction of human senses and the tactile surface. In this regard, the determining condition of quality assurance is the maximum consideration of the needs of blind people at the stage of designing and manufacturing a tactile product. The overall result of qualitative perception of information by blind people will ultimately depend on the accuracy of determining the geometric and tactile characteristics of printed products.

The aim of the study. To classify and rank the factors affecting the process of designing and reproducing the L. Braille font to ensure the quality of tactile perception of information by blind people.

Materials and methods. Samples of pharmaceutical cardboard packages, which are marked with the L. Braille font by embossing, screen printing and Ink jet printing. For research, methods of electron microscopy, modelling and mathematical statistics were used.

Results. The analysis of the level of selected factors influence of tactile products design indicates a significant interaction between them. So, for example, the printing method affects the density of signs and their geometric parameters, in particular the diameter and height of the L. Braille dot, and the type of tactile products and the reading experience depend on the protective coating and the base material. This is confirmed by the results of expert evaluations of the quality of Braille inscriptions, reproduced using various printing methods of reproduction (embossing, screen printing, and ink-jet printing), on samples of pharmaceutical product packages, which showed a significant influence of the chosen method of manufacturing printed products for the blind on the quality of its tactile perception. It has been established that the best readability of relief text is achieved when using digital Ink jet printing technology.

Conclusions. The process of assessing the quality of perception of relief inscriptions by the blind is a complex technological task. For the optimal selection of materials and technology for reproduction of L. Braille inscriptions, a large number of factors of perception process of tactile information must be taken into account. The constructed cognitive model of the perception of a tactile product by people with visual impairments allows determining the set of factors of the design process based on the analysis of the multi-level system “tactile product – blind person”, which ensures the performance of all basic cognitive functions for the systematization of the process of ensuring the quality of the L. Braille font.

References

  1. Voytiuk T. See the world by How braille changed the world of the visually impaired (Ukrainian). Available from:https://suspilne.media/93260-pobaciti-svit-na-dotik-ak-srift-brajla-zminiv-svit-ludej-z-vadami-zoru/2021)
  2. Havenko MM. Determination of the belonging functions of linguistic variables in the process of perception of tactile information. Book Qualilogy. 2017;2(32):88-93 (Ukrainian).
  3. Havenko MM, Hileta IV, Havenko SF, Labetska MT, Senkivskyi VM. Improvement of printing technologies and ensuring the quality of tactile perception of the Braille font: Monogr. Lviv: UAP; 2019. 279 р. (Ukrainian)
  4. Havenko SF, Labetska MT. Printing technologies of marking products in Braille: Monogr. Lviv: Liga-Press; 2014. 140 р. (Ukrainian)
  5. Havenko SF, Labetska MT, Havenko MM, Yurevych VR. The influence of Braille readability on the effectiveness of tactile perception of information by blind people. Ukrainian Medical Journal. 2013;3:69-74 (Ukrainian).
  6. Нamezo MV, Domashenko IA. Atlas of psychology: Informative method, course manual G18 “Human psychology”. M.; 2004. 176 p. [Internet]. A vailable from: http://um.co.ua/2/2-4/2-48010.html. (Ukrainian)
  7. Hileta IV, Havenko MM, Senkivskyi VM. Model of influencing factors on the design process of tactile products. Printing and Publishing. 2017;1(73):87-96. (Ukrainian)
  8. Law of Ukraine СOn Amendments to Article 12 of the Law of Ukraine “On Medicinal Products” regarding labeling of medicinal products in Braille” No. 2165-VI of May 11, 2010. Bulletin of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. 2010;31:415. (Ukrainian)
  9. Lopatina AA. Braille: the past and its relevance Materials of the conference with international participation “Multimedia technologies in education and other spheres of activity” (2021 Nov 2). Kyiv: NAU; 2022. p. 74-76. (Ukrainian)
  10. Havenko S, Havenko M, Labetska M. Simulation of durability the evaluation of relief-dot Braille images. JGED-Journal of graphic engineering and design. 2016; 7:27-
  11. Havenko S, Labetska M, Khadzhynova S. Poligraficzne metody wykonywania nadruku alfabetem Braille’a. Swiat druku. 2013;7-8:74-76 (Havenko S, Labetska M, Khadzhynova S. Methods of printing in World of Printing. 2013;7-8:74-76) (Polish).
  12. Standard LST EN 15823:2010. Packaging – Braille on packaging for medicinal Available from: http://shop.bsigroup.com/en/ProductDetail/?pid=000000000030180500
  13. Stepien K. Drukowanie pisma Braille’a na opakowaniach. Przeglad papierniczy. 2013;8:412-418 (Stepien K. Printing Braille on packaging. Paper Review. 2013;8:412-418) (Polish).