Tactility as a Function of Grasp Force: Effects of Glove, Orientation, Load and Handle

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The objectives of this research were to ensure that a reduction in tactile sensitivity was causing a reduction in gloved performance, and to measure this reduction in tactile sensitivity through grasp force at the hand/handle interface under a variety of performance conditions. The effects of glove type, load lifted, handle size, and handle orientation on the initial grasping force and stable grasping force were determined through a factorial experiment in which 10 subjects participated. The working hypothesis was that grasp force would be a function of all the above mentioned factors. The most consistent findings of this experiment were: 1. Glove effect is marginal at submaximal exertions. 2. The magnitude of force exertions in the advanced glove and bare handed conditions were similar. 3. The magnitude of force exertion was the highest with meat packing gloves. 4. The ratio of peak to stable grasp force increased with increasing loads. 5. The glove effect for maximal exertions as seen in experiment 2 is consistent with published evidence. In conclusion, it is clear from these experiments that when people perform a grasping action, the maximal exertions are affected differently by gloves than sub-maximal or “just holding type of exertions.”