Multi-Sensory Feedback (2) - By Yasmin Aftab

Multi Sensory Feedback as a learning tool

When using multi sensory feedback it utilizes touch hearing and vision to help improve the user interface. It moves away from the paradigm of desktop computing to a more pervasive computing experience as it enhances the experience of performing tasks into a more entertaining one or a task that can be learnt much easier.

Multi sensory feedback can enhance the learning experience for people with learning difficulties or for young people.Most modern teaching is done by sight and hearing. Sight is used to read information written in books or by a teacher, or to look at diagrams and pictures. Hearing is used to listen at what is being said. These are both good ways for learning for people without learning difficulties.

When young people learn they tend to listen to and read what is being said by a teacher, but in some cases a child may be distracted easily or have difficulties taking in information has they cannot handle both visual and audible stimulation. Using current technology, someone can type something using a keyboard and then what is typed is spoken out by the computer.

By using multi sensory feedback as a technique for learning, it can help children with learning difficulties by allowing the child to focus on one task with multiple outcomes. Using touch screens, a child could visually follow an object on screen, and then be asked to touch on the correct object based on a particular colour on screen or sound made by an object. This method can also help those with learning difficulties coordinate on more then one thing. This principle can also be used for young children as a method for quick learning. It makes learning more entertaining then the usual reading and listening method.

A good example of this technology being utilised currently are games on the Nintendo DS called Brain Training and Big Brain Academy, which utilises basic touch, sound and visual feedback to provide an entertaining yet useful tool for helping with memory.