title: The effect of cane length on the haptic perception of height.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether the ability to haptically perceive object height is a function of the length of cane being wielded by blindfolded individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen sighted females between the ages of 18 and 25 years volunteered to participate in the study. Five different heights of wooden blocks were haptically explored with four different cane lengths (0.92, 1.22, 1.37 and 1.67 m), cane length order being randomized across 2 days of testing. Subjects were asked to report whether the explored block's height was taller, shorter, or equal to that of a previously presented standard block. The percentages of correct judgments for each cane and block height combination were subjected to statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The analysis revealed significant main effects for cane length, F (3, 42) = 9.47, p < 0.0001, and block height, F (4, 56) = 17.69, p < 0.0001. The interaction of cane length and block height was not significant, F < 1. The accuracy of haptic perception improved with decreased cane length and increased difference in height from the standard block.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Contrary to previous research on haptic perception in which probe length was found not to affect judgment accuracy, the present study found a marked influence of cane length on perceptual accuracy. This finding indicates that length is an important property that should be taken into account when prescribing canes for the visually impaired.
authors.affiliation: Physical Therapy Department, Husson College, Bangor, USA. sidawayb@husson.edu
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sidaway
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Champagne
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Daigle
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Marcous
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nadeau
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pelletier
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002183:Canes; D006801:Humans; D012858:Size Perception; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D019987:Persons with Visual Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation