Haptic Selfies: Bold and Beautiful Living for the Blind and Visually Impaired

It is said, “Beauty is only skin-deep”. However, looking good, beautiful, or handsome can boost one’s self-confidence, promote a positive outlook, and help to contribute positively during official communications or social interactions. Laughter and smiles provide positive feedback during face-to-face communication. On the other hand, looking sideways, making a face, showing anger or disgust, being tight-lipped, moving the face upward or downward instead of keeping it upright, can deliver negative communicative cues or indifference in communication. The blind and visually impaired (BVI) miss subtle non-verbal gestures, facial expressions, or prosodic features of speech during social interaction. The inability to interpret visual, non-verbal cues impedes communication that can lead to awkward moments, possibly resulting in social avoidance or isolation. In this paper, the concept of haptic selfies, a dynamic tangible interface has been discussed that could make the BVI aware of their own and others’ appearance. This helps the BVI to understand and imagine the inner and outer beauty of a person. Haptic selfies can promote enhanced social interaction and integration into mainstream.