An Electrotactile Display
TL;DR: In this article, an explorable electrotactile display has been constructed and tested, and it has been shown that exploration of the surface of the display elicits a sensation describable as texture.
Abstract: An explorable electrotactile display has been constructed and tested. A thus far neglected sensation was identified and has been shown to be more useful than the more common electrotactile sensations. Exploration of the surface of the electrotactile display elicits a sensation describable as texture. Experiments have indicated that the intensity of this texture sensation is due primarily to the peak applied voltage rather than to current density as is the case for the classical electrotactile sensation. For subjects employing the texture sensation, experimental results are given for approximate thresholds and for the effect of electrode area on these thresholds. A boundary-localization measurement is offered as a measure of the usefulness of the display for textured-area presentation, and form-separation measurements are given as a measure of usefulness for line-drawing presentations. A proposed model for the mechanism producing the texture sensation is offered as a guide for future experimentation and display-engineering development.
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University of Cambridge1, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia2, Lancaster University3, University of Manchester4, Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies5, Technical University of Denmark6, Nokia7, University of Trento8, Queen Mary University of London9, fondazione bruno kessler10, Technische Universität München11, Polytechnic University of Milan12, Centre national de la recherche scientifique13, University of Trieste14, University of Ioannina15, University of Geneva16, Trinity College, Dublin17, Texas Instruments18, University of Paris19, Spanish National Research Council20, Leiden University21, Delft University of Technology22, University of Patras23, École Normale Supérieure24, Radboud University Nijmegen25, Nest Labs26, Airbus UK27, Seoul National University28, Yonsei University29, University of Oxford30, Chalmers University of Technology31, University of Groningen32, STMicroelectronics33, Chemnitz University of Technology34, Max Planck Society35, Aalto University36
TL;DR: An overview of the key aspects of graphene and related materials, ranging from fundamental research challenges to a variety of applications in a large number of sectors, highlighting the steps necessary to take GRMs from a state of raw potential to a point where they might revolutionize multiple industries are provided.
Abstract: We present the science and technology roadmap for graphene, related two-dimensional crystals, and hybrid systems, targeting an evolution in technology, that might lead to impacts and benefits reaching into most areas of society. This roadmap was developed within the framework of the European Graphene Flagship and outlines the main targets and research areas as best understood at the start of this ambitious project. We provide an overview of the key aspects of graphene and related materials (GRMs), ranging from fundamental research challenges to a variety of applications in a large number of sectors, highlighting the steps necessary to take GRMs from a state of raw potential to a point where they might revolutionize multiple industries. We also define an extensive list of acronyms in an effort to standardize the nomenclature in this emerging field.
2,560 citations
TL;DR: The authors review the methods used to present visual, auditory, and modified tactile information to the skin and discuss present and potential future applications of sensory substitution, including tactile vision substitution (TVS), tactile auditory substitution, and remote tactile sensing or feedback (teletouch).
Abstract: Sensory substitution systems provide their users with environmental information through a human sensory channel (eye, ear, or skin) different from that normally used or with the information processed in some useful way. The authors review the methods used to present visual, auditory, and modified tactile information to the skin and discuss present and potential future applications of sensory substitution, including tactile vision substitution (TVS), tactile auditory substitution, and remote tactile sensing or feedback (teletouch). The relevant sensory physiology of the skin, including the mechanisms of normal touch and the mechanisms and sensations associated with electrical stimulation of the skin using surface electrodes (electrotactile, or electrocutaneous, stimulation), is reviewed. The information-processing ability of the tactile sense and its relevance to sensory substitution is briefly summarized. The limitations of current tactile display technologies are discussed, and areas requiring further research for sensory substitution systems to become more practical are suggested. >
823 citations
03 Oct 2010
TL;DR: The proposed technology is based on the electrovibration principle, does not use any moving parts and provides a wide range of tactile feedback sensations to fingers moving across a touch surface, which enables the design of a wide variety of interfaces that allow the user to feel virtual elements through touch.
Abstract: We present a new technology for enhancing touch interfaces with tactile feedback. The proposed technology is based on the electrovibration principle, does not use any moving parts and provides a wide range of tactile feedback sensations to fingers moving across a touch surface. When combined with an interactive display and touch input, it enables the design of a wide variety of interfaces that allow the user to feel virtual elements through touch. We present the principles of operation and an implementation of the technology. We also report the results of three controlled psychophysical experiments and a subjective user evaluation that describe and characterize users' perception of this technology. We conclude with an exploration of the design space of tactile touch screens using two comparable setups, one based on electrovibration and another on mechanical vibrotactile actuation.
740 citations
Patent•
21 Mar 2007TL;DR: A haptic device provides indirect haptic feedback and virtual texture sensations to a user by modulation of friction of a touch surface of the device in response to one or more sensed parameters and/or time as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: A haptic device provides indirect haptic feedback and virtual texture sensations to a user by modulation of friction of a touch surface of the device in response to one or more sensed parameters and/or time. The sensed parameters can include, but are not limited to, sensed position of the user's finger, derivatives of sensed finger position such as velocity and/or acceleration, sensed finger pressure, and/or sensed direction of motion of the finger. The touch surface is adapted to be touched by a user's bare finger, thumb or other appendage and/or by an instrument such as a stylus held by the user.
340 citations
TL;DR: A new electrostatic tactile display is proposed to realize compact tactile display devices that can be incorporated with virtual reality systems and was evaluated in texture discrimination tests and demonstrated a 79 percent correct answer ratio.
Abstract: A new electrostatic tactile display is proposed to realize compact tactile display devices that can be incorporated with virtual reality systems. The tactile display of this study consists of a thin conductive film slider with stator electrodes that excite electrostatic forces. Users of the device experience tactile texture sensations by moving the slider with their fingers. The display operates by applying two-phase cyclic voltage patterns to the electrodes. The display is incorporated into a tactile telepresentation system to realize explorations of remote surface textures with real-time tactile feedback. In the system, a PVDF tactile sensor and a DSP controller automatically generate voltage patterns to present surface texture sensations through the tactile display. A sensor, in synchronization with finger motion on the tactile display, scans a texture sample and outputs information about the sample surface. The information is processed by a DSP and fed back to the tactile display in real time. The tactile telepresentation system was evaluated in texture discrimination tests and demonstrated a 79 percent correct answer ratio. A transparent electrostatic tactile display is also reported in which the tactile display is combined with an LCD to realize a visual-tactile integrated display system.
178 citations
Cites methods from "An Electrotactile Display"
...This stimulation method, called electrostatic tactile stimulation, was introduced in a tactile display by Strong and Troxel [ 11 ]....
[...]
...placed on electrostatic tactile stimulation, that is, stimulation of the mechano-receptors using mechanical vibrations induced by electrostatic force [10], [ 11 ]....
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References
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TL;DR: It seems reasonable to conclude that responses to mechanical displacement of the skin are mediated by more than one receptor system, although direct evidence is still lacking.
Abstract: Vibrotactile thresholds were determined as a function of frequency, contactor configuration, and contactor area. It was found that contactor area is a more important stimulus parameter than the gradient or curvature of displacement. The absolute threshold for vibration seems to be independent of frequency when very small contactors are used and independent of area at low frequencies. For higher values of these parameters, it strongly depends on both. It seems reasonable to conclude that responses to mechanical displacement of the skin are mediated by more than one receptor system, although direct evidence is still lacking.
378 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the sensitivity to vibration on the hand was determined as a function of frequency, contactor dimensions, and contactor configuration, and distance of the contactor from a rigid support.
Abstract: Sensitivity to vibration on the hand was determined as a function of frequency, contactor dimensions, contactor configuration, and distance of the contactor from a rigid support. It was found that each of these parameters affects the threshold in a different way. In the frequency range between 25 and 640 cps, the absolute threshold as a function of frequency yields a U‐shaped curve that reaches a maximum of sensitivity in the region of 250 cps. The effect of the geometric parameters appears to be highly complex.
167 citations
129 citations
45 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the absorption coefficient of the human body surface for energy derived from various vibratory systems was measured through the frequency range, 50 to 500 c.p.s.
Abstract: In order to compute the absorption coefficient of the human body for energy derived from various vibratory systems, the mechanical impedance of the body surface was measured through the frequency range, 50 to 500 c.p.s. The essential element of the measuring apparatus is a vibrating piston, the free end of which is placed in firm contact with the area of the body surface whose impedance is to be measured. The impedance of the body surface can be calculated from the measured amplitudes and phases of the piston when free and when in contact with the body. Measurements were also made by an alternative method in which a quartz crystal located between the piston and the body surface was used to measure the force applied. The mechanical impedance varies with the site of measurements. The absorption coefficient of the body surface for airborne sound was computed from the mechanical impedance measured by both of these methods. The absorption coefficient of surfaces overlying soft tissues is about ten percent at 100 c.p.s. and is approximately inversely proportional to the frequency.
8 citations