Abstract
We describe here a wearable, wireless, compact, and lightweight tactile display, able to mechanically stimulate the fingertip of users, so as to simulate contact with soft bodies in virtual environments. The device was based on dielectric elastomer actuators, as high-performance electromechanically active polymers. The actuator was arranged at the user’s fingertip, integrated within a plastic case, which also hosted a compact high-voltage circuitry. A custom-made wireless control unit was arranged on the forearm and connected to the display via low-voltage leads. We present the structure of the device and a characterization of it, in terms of electromechanical response and stress relaxation. Furthermore, we present results of a psychophysical test aimed at assessing the ability of the system to generate different levels of force that can be perceived by users.
Highlights
Human computer interfaces able to provide user with tactile feedback are spreading in several fields
We describe here a wearable, wireless, compact, and lightweight tactile display, able to mechanically stimulate the fingertip of users, so as to simulate contact with soft bodies in virtual environments
Tactile displays are used to allow users to interact with computer generated objects in virtual environments
Summary
Human computer interfaces able to provide user with tactile feedback are spreading in several fields. The grounded interface Geomagic Touch (Geomagic, Inc., USA) is accurate and can produce considerable forces, even though it is far from being portable and wearable (Prattichizzo et al, 2013). The hand-grounded CyberGraspTM system can provide force feedback to the five fingers (Aiple and Schiele, 2013); its complex mechanics, made of tendons routed via an exoskeleton and the need for an external actuator module limit its portability (Prattichizzo et al, 2013). The CyberTouchTM system can produce complex tactile feedback patterns, it works only in vibration mode (CyberGlove Systems, 2014)
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