Tactile technology for pain evaluation in blind people

Abstract

This is a descriptive study of blind people perceptions about a prototype called Tactile Scale for pain intensity evaluation. By means of a half-structured interview, reports were collected from blind people from the Ceará Blind People Association, to describe prototype nature, establishing relationships between their pain experiences and looking for meanings for their use in the blind people culture. Out of the reports, three issues were identified and analyzed: pain intensity at fingertips, pain tactile scale perception, highlighting texture, shape and size, and polishing the Tactile Scale. Blind people tactile sensory perception generated new reflection parameters to pain study and directed prototype performance to a more satisfactory pain communication process.