Modifying Texture Perception With Pseudo-Haptic Feedback for a Projected Virtual Hand Interface

Abstract

Human body augmentation makes it possible to obtain new abilities that we cannot achieve with our actual bodies. A projected virtual hand interface is a promising approach for body augmentation because it can extend a user’s reach in daily life without the need to wear a device. Although users can manipulate a projected virtual hand as if it were their own hand and can interact with distant objects through it, they cannot feel the sensation of touch when the projected virtual hand is overlaid on a real object. In this paper, we propose a novel pseudo-haptic feedback framework to provide users with the tactile texture of objects without the use of haptic devices. We designed three types of visual effects that produce unevenness, slipperiness, and softness. The experimental results indicate that the proposed visual effects can lead users to feel the intended tactile sensation. Furthermore, the visual effects provide users with tactile sensations with three to five levels of intensity without producing a strange feeling.