Users often use descriptions and illustrations as clues to obtain information in visual information-based operations. However, at places where illumination is dim or groping is necessary, supplemental information by sense organs other than visual become important, especially to visually impaired persons who are unable to handle visual information-based machines. Under such situations, accidents, operational errors, stresses due are thought can be prevented through tactile information-based operations. In this study, the objectives were to examine the possibility of exploiting intuition ability on shapes and material texture through tactile cognition in operating machines by both visually impaired and normal persons, and also to clarify the factors that affect the cognition.
