Evaluation of a vibrotactile feedback device for spatial guidance

In the present study, a vibrotactile feedback device for spatial guidance was evaluated in a tracking task paradigm. Participants (N = 18) had to translate and rotate virtual objects according to the vibrotactile vs. verbal cues without visual information. Both types of spatial guidance were evaluated using objective performance data (i.e. speed, accuracy) as well as subjective judgments. Results indicate that distinguishing spatial cues during the translational task was more difficult when being guided by vibrotactile feedback compared to verbal feedback. Nevertheless, individuals with vibrotactile guidance showed better performance at rotational tasks. Implications for the further design process and other areas of application are discussed.

[1]  S. Hart,et al.  Development of NASA-TLX (Task Load Index): Results of Empirical and Theoretical Research , 1988 .

[2]  Gordon E. Legge,et al.  Spatial learning and navigation using a virtual verbal display , 2010, TAP.

[3]  Jessie Ying Chi Ng,et al.  Vibro-Monitor: A Vibrotactile display for Physiological Data Monitoring , 2004 .

[4]  J.B.F. van Erp.  Tactile Displays in Virtual Environments , 2001 .

[5]  Lucy E. Dunne,et al.  A shoulder pad insert vibrotactile display , 2003, Seventh IEEE International Symposium on Wearable Computers, 2003. Proceedings..

[6]  Linda R. Elliott,et al.  Field-Based Validation of a Tactile Navigation Device , 2010, IEEE Transactions on Haptics.

[7]  Jens Herder,et al.  Steering actors through a virtual set employing vibro-tactile feedback , 2009, Tangible and Embedded Interaction.

[8]  Tobias Ende,et al.  VibroTac: An ergonomic and versatile usable vibrotactile feedback device , 2010, 19th International Symposium in Robot and Human Interactive Communication.

[9]  Thomas K. Ferris,et al.  Crossmodal Links in Attention in the Driving Environment: The Roles of Cueing Modality, Signal Timing, and Workload , 2008 .

[10]  Lynette A. Jones,et al.  Tactile display and vibrotactile pattern recognition on the torso , 2006, Adv. Robotics.

[11]  Yohan Payan,et al.  Vibrotactile guidance for trajectory following in computer aided surgery , 2010, 2010 Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology.

[12]  Markus Straub,et al.  Distance encoding in vibro-tactile guidance cues , 2009, 2009 6th Annual International Mobile and Ubiquitous Systems: Networking & Services, MobiQuitous.

[13]  G. G. Stokes.  "J." , 1890, The New Yale Book of Quotations.

[14]  Sethuraman Panchanathan,et al.  MOVeMENT: A framework for systematically mapping vibrotactile stimulations to fundamental body movements , 2010, 2010 IEEE International Symposium on Haptic Audio Visual Environments and Games.

[15]  Erwin Schoonderwaldt,et al.  Good vibrations: Guiding body movements with vibrotactile feedback , 2009 .

[16]  James R Marston,et al.  An n-back task using vibrotactile stimulation with comparison to an auditory analogue , 2008, Behavior research methods.

[17]  S. S. Stevens.  Cross-modality validation of subjective scales for loudness, vibration, and electric shock. , 1959, Journal of experimental psychology.

[18]  Hong Z. Tan,et al.  Development of a wearable haptic display for situation awareness in altered-gravity environment: some initial findings , 2002, Proceedings 10th Symposium on Haptic Interfaces for Virtual Environment and Teleoperator Systems. HAPTICS 2002.

[19]  Maik Friedrich,et al.  Vibrotaktiles Feedback zur Aufmerksamkeitslenkung bei komplexen Lotsentätigkeiten , 2010 .

[20]  Richard D. Gilson,et al.  Vibrotactile Guidance Cues for Target Acquisition , 2007, IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics, Part C (Applications and Reviews).

[21]  Erin Piateski,et al.  Vibrotactile pattern recognition on the arm and torso , 2005, First Joint Eurohaptics Conference and Symposium on Haptic Interfaces for Virtual Environment and Teleoperator Systems. World Haptics Conference.

[22]  A H Rupert.  An instrumentation solution for reducing spatial disorientation mishaps. , 2000, IEEE engineering in medicine and biology magazine : the quarterly magazine of the Engineering in Medicine & Biology Society.

[23]  J.B.F. van Erp,et al.  Introduction to tactile displays in military environments , 2008 .

[24]  Hong Z. Tan,et al.  Using spatial vibrotactile cues to direct visual attention in driving scenes , 2005 .

[25]  Lynette A. Jones,et al.  Tactile Displays: Guidance for Their Design and Application , 2008, Hum. Factors.

[26]  I-Ming Chen,et al.  The development of a real-time wearable motion replication platform with spatial sensing and tactile feedback , 2010, 2010 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems.

[27]  Thomas Hulin,et al.  Evalution of Vibro-Tactile Feedback to the Human Arm , 2006 .