Abstract
We present a novel haptic interaction to vibro-tactually connect an interpersonal touch using bracelet devices. A pair of bracelet devices identifies the user who is actively touching and the other who is passively touched, defining the direction as being from the former to the latter. By controlling the vibrational feedback, the pair induces a tactile apparent motion representing the direction between two hands. The bracelets are comprised of our developed interpersonal body area network module, an acceleration sensor, and a vibrator. The devices communicate with each other through electrical current flowing along the hands to identify the direction by sharing accelerations just before a touch and to synchronize the feedback in less than ten milliseconds. Experiment 1 demonstrates that the vibration propagated from a bracelet device to the wearer's hand is perceivable by another. Experiment 2 determines sets of optimal actuation parameters, stimulus onset asynchrony, and duration of vibration to induce the tactile apparent motion based on a psychophysical approach. In addition, vibration propagation between hands is observed. Experiment 3 demonstrates the capability of the developed device to present the haptic interaction.
Highlights
INTERPERSONAL touch interactions perform a social behavior modulation effect
We identified a direction of touch as a key issue that has not been explored in touch communication after discussions with therapists specializing in children with special needs
Wilcoxon signed-rank tests with Bonferroni correction was performed on the results and a post-hoc power analysis was performed on significant results
Summary
INTERPERSONAL touch interactions perform a social behavior modulation effect. Servers in a restaurant, for instance, were instructed either to touch customers or not to touch them while returning their change. The customers gave significantly greater tips under the with-touch condition than the without-touch condition [1]. A similar effect has been noted in several situations in which people behave generously [2]–[4], tend to comply with a request [5]–[7], and help /collaborate with someone [8]–[10]. Context, such as gender, nationality, and relationship, is likely to affect the interpretation of and reaction to touch [11]–[15].
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