Designing Interactive and Motivating Stimuli for Children with Visual Impairments

Abstract

The long-term effects of visual impairments can, in some instances, be mitigated if the sensory cells in the eye are trained appropriately during (early) childhood. Exposure to visual stimuli like cardboards with high-contrast visual patterns is the cornerstone to a successful treatment. However, despite its benefits, this kind of vision training can be tedious and demotivating for children. To leverage training and therapy, we propose interaction design to create multimodal stimuli that are rewarding and motivating. The present work elaborated on this suggestion and presents a design concept that makes the vision therapist a playmaker, coach, playmate, wizard, and statistician all at the same time.Visual impairment. Vision training. Visual stimulus. Interactive toy. Motivation.

Exploration of Tactile-Oriented Toy Design for Visually Impaired Children

“…For example, Figure 1: Dimpl Duo toy incorporates different textured sections to help children identify through touch and embeds music and speech functions to facilitate learning through auditory assistance. When designing toys, more attention should be paid to detail to create more stimulating sensory experiences for children [7]. By implementing these comprehensive design strategies, the functionality and safety of toys can be significantly enhanced, better meeting the special needs of visually impaired children, and ensuring that they obtain corresponding educational value and sensory training during play.…”