A wearable light-touch contact device for human balance support

Keisuke Shima,Koji Shimatani,Mami Sakata

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-85687-4

Keisuke Shima, Koji Shimatani + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-85687-4

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Abstract

There is an urgent need for the development of ways to address the major issue of falls among today’s globally aging population. The authors here outline a new approach referred to as virtual light-touch contact to mitigate postural sway during ambulatory and stationary periods, and propose a wearable light-touch (WLT) system featuring a virtual partition around the user that allows determination of virtual forces resulting from related contact. The data produced are used to create vibrotactile fingertip feedback, which supports comprehensive perception of the partition. Non-impaired subjects were recruited to support evaluation of the prototype system (incorporating tactile stimulation and motion-capture technology), with outcomes showing successful mitigation of postural sway in a heel-to-toe tandem stance. Research performed with 150 able-bodied volunteers to validate the performance of the new set-up (incorporating an acceleration sensor and a voice coil motor to render the light-touch effect) suggested that the proposed WLT approach supports human balance on a level comparable to that of the light-touch effect.

Highlights

There is an urgent need for the development of ways to address the major issue of falls among today’s globally aging population
Each volunteer was asked to retain a tandem stance on the force plate with the eyes closed and perform five tasks as follows: (a) no contact (NC) anywhere, (b) no contact with the hand moving to touch the virtual partition without feedback (NF), (c) no contact with constant fingertip stimulation (CS), (d) light-touch contact (LT) with a piece of paper hanging to the subject’s right side, and (e) virtual light touch (VLT) with the right hand
The authors here outline an approach referred to as virtual light-touch contact (VLT) that helps to increase the physical stability of the user with no need for an actual partition

Summary

Introduction

Research performed with 150 able-bodied volunteers to validate the performance of the new set-up (incorporating an acceleration sensor and a voice coil motor to render the light-touch effect) suggested that the proposed WLT approach supports human balance on a level comparable to that of the light-touch effect Motor function disorders such as Parkinson’s disease are associated with accidents involving falls due to the increased postural sway they cause. Despite the successes reported in these studies, LT cannot be applied without the presence of a curtain or another actual partition in the real world With this in mind, there is a need for research on the application of LT with no actual partition toward the establishment of a technique to mitigate stationary and ambulatory postural instability. The validity of the concept is discussed here based on experimental evaluation of a wearable light-touch device with over 150 volunteers in the 1920s–1960s age bracket

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