[Paper] Sweat Absorption Reduces the Frictional Force Between a Finger Pad and the Surface of a Flat Plate

Abstract

Braille contents can be presented to a visually impaired person not only by dots on embossed paper but also dynamically by machine. The material of the parts of these Braille display tools that are touched by fingers has an effect on comfort in reading Braille. The effect seems to be due mainly to the friction change caused by perspiration. In this research we experimentally examined how sweat affects the friction between a finger and an object. Comparing acrylic sheet and copy paper, we found the influence of sweat to be greater on acrylic sheet and that even a sweating fingertip did not show a change in frictional force when rubbing an object covered with copy paper.