Tasbi: Multisensory Squeeze and Vibrotactile Wrist Haptics for Augmented and Virtual Reality

Augmented and virtual reality are poised to deliver the next generation of computing interfaces. To fully immerse users, it will become increasingly important to couple visual information with tactile feedback for interactions with the virtual world. Small wearable devices which approximate or substitute for sensations in the hands offer an attractive path forward. In this work, we present Tasbi, a multisensory haptic wristband capable of delivering squeeze and vibrotactile feedback. The device features a novel mechanism for generating evenly distributed and purely normal squeeze forces around the wrist. Our approach ensures that Tasbi’s six radially spaced vibrotactors maintain position and exhibit consistent skin coupling. In addition to experimental device characterization, we present early explorations into Tasbi’s utility as a sensory substitution device for hand interactions, employing squeeze, vibration, and pseudo-haptic effects to render a highly believable virtual button.