This study evaluated variables that determined the safety of 15 cane users who were using the touch technique. The results showed that none of the walkers used a touch technique as described and recommended in the literature, that the detection of obstacles was related mainly to the height of the cane tip during the sweep, and that the early detection of drop-offs was related primarily to the length of the cane.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BentzenB. L., & BarlowJ. M. (1995). Impact of curb ramps on the safety of persons who are blind. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 89, 319–328.
2.
BlaschB. B., & De l'AuneW. R. (1992). A computer profile of mobility coverage and a safety index. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 86, 249–254.
3.
BlaschB. B., LaGrowS. J., & De l'AuneW. (1996). Three aspects of coverage provided by the long cane: Object, surface, and foot-placement preview. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 90, 295–301.
4.
BlaschB. B., & StuckeyK. A. (1995). Accessibility and mobility of persons who are visually impaired: a historical analysis. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 89, 417–422.
5.
DoddsA. G., DavidD. C., CarterD. D. C., HowarthC. I., & PhilD. (1983). Improving objective measures of mobility. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 77, 438–442.
6.
FiskS. (1986). Constant-contact technique with a modified tip: A new alternative for long-cane mobility. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 80, 999–1000.
7.
FoulkeE. (1996). The roles of perception and cognition in controlling the mobility task. In Proceedings of the Eighth International Mobility Conference (pp. 173–193).
8.
GeruschatD. R., & De l'AuneW. (1989). Reliability and validity of O&M instructor observations. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 83, 457–460.
9.
HillE., & PonderP. (1976). Orientation and mobility techniques: A guide for the practitioner.New York: American Foundation for the Blind.
10.
JacobsonW. (1993). The art and science of teaching orientation and mobility to persons with visual impairments.New York: American Foundation for the Blind.
11.
LaGrowS. J., BlaschB. B., & De l'AuneW. (1997). Efficacy of the touch technique for surface and foot-placement preview. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 91, 47–52.
12.
SchellingerhoutR., BongersR. M., van GrinsvenR., SmitsmanA. W., & van GalenG. P. (2001). Improving obstacle detection by redesign of walking canes for blind persons. Ergonomics, 44, 513–526.
13.
UslanM. M. (1978). Cane technique: Modifying the touch technique for full path coverage. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 72, 10–14.
14.
UslanM. M., & ManningP. (1974). A graphic analysis of touch technique safety. American Foundation for the Blind Research Bulletin, 28, 175–190.
15.
UslanM. M., & SchreibmanK. (1980). Dropoff detection in the touch technique. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 74, 179–182.
