Remote Tactile Displays for Future Soldiers

Abstract : This report is a consolidated description of past work performed to develop the University of Central Florida's tactile belt display system and to evaluate its potential for use as a covert means of communication to the individual warfighter. Previously, the results from these evaluations were distributed as technical reports, meeting presentations, and live demonstrations spanning the past several years. This report documents the full body of work and combines it into one document. Researchers expected the use of tactile displays to reduce demands on and interference with the Soldiers overtaxed visual and auditory channels, thereby improving overall performance capacity and mission readiness. As part of the development process, tactile system characteristics were reviewed and assessed to ensure system effectiveness. Several studies were performed to determine optimal system characteristics. After an effective system was developed, it was evaluated for military applications such as covert communication and target cueing in realistic mission context. This report contains these studies and documents the tactile belt display system's effect on Soldier performance.

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