Communicating Through the Use of Vibrotactile Displays for Dismounted and Mounted Soldiers

Abstract : The purpose of the studies reported here was to determine if participants wearing a purposed-designed tactile display could accurately report cue localization and messaging while undergoing different levels of physiological stress. Experiment 1 found that participants could effectively receive tactile messaging while navigating a physically challenging obstacle course. Experiment 2 demonstrated that tactile localization could be achieved by participants experiencing extreme whole body vibration produced by a vehicle simulator which replicated movement of different military vehicles in extreme conditions. Collective results illustrate that the current tactile display has significant potential for communication and/or directional cueing in demanding, real-world conditions.