Characteristics of Reading Rate and Manual Scanning Patterns of Blind Optacon Readers

Tactual reading is slow compared with sighted reading, and the rate-limiting constraints imposed on tactile readers are only vaguely understood. Like the eye movements of sighted reading, the text-scanning hand movements of tactual reading provide a means to investigate the operative system. We examined the reading hand movements of 10 blind readers using the Optacon, the electronic reading aid used most commonly by blind readers. Subjects read texts of graded difficulty, and their reading hand movements were recorded. Rate and scanning measures were used to characterize reading performance. The group mean reading rate was found to be 28.2 words/min. Reading rate measured in letter spaces per minute was independent of text difficulty.