Abstract:
This paper presents a new approach to provide two-dimensional directional information mediated by the sense of touch. The basic idea was to test whether one-dimensional s...Show MoreMetadata
Abstract:
This paper presents a new approach to provide two-dimensional directional information mediated by the sense of touch. The basic idea was to test whether one-dimensional stimuli provided by a counterclockwise (CCW) and clockwise (CW) rotating leadscrew of a friction-based fingertip stimulator prototype can be perceived as two-dimensional directional information. Ten participants were asked to indicate the perceived direction of the stimuli in left-right (i.e., mediolateral) and forward-backward (i.e., anteroposterior) dimensions. The properties of 12 stimuli were varied, for example, by rotation direction (i.e., CCW and CW) and stimulus symmetry (i.e., symmetrical and asymmetrical). The results showed that left and right directions were perceived in accuracies of ges 90%. Forward and backward directions could be perceived above the chance level. Based on the results we suggest that the concept could be used successfully in presenting at least three directions (i.e., left, right, and backward). For navigation applications three directions would, in many cases, be sufficient, but by means of further studies it might be possible to provide information of all four main directions.
Date of Conference: 18-20 March 2009
Date Added to IEEE Xplore: 03 April 2009
Print ISBN:978-1-4244-3858-7