Tactile presentation using mechanical and electrical stimulation

Abstract

In our study, we developed the FinGAR (Finger Glove for Augmented Reality), which is a tactile display that uses a combination of electrical and mechanical stimulation. The device can selectively stimulate four channels of tactile sensation, based on pressure, low-frequency vibration, high-frequency vibration, and shear stretching, to achieve high-fidelity tactile sensation. The FinGAR was designed to be lightweight, to have a simple mechanism, to be easy to wear, and to ensure that it does not affect natural finger movement. By combining FinGAR with a virtual reality system, users are able to touch and play with virtual objects.