Sequential Recognition Rate and Latency of Frequency-Based Tactons

Abstract

Tactons are tactile cues that allow the sense of touch to be used in Human Computer Interaction (HCI). This experiment determines a computer user’s ability and time needed to associate, in sequence, two distinct sets of four tactons encoded with four different sinusoidal waveforms of different frequencies and same amplitude, compared to baseline recognition rates and latency using audible cues instead of tactons. To date 18 participants have been tested. Preliminary results show 55% ± 2.8 recognition rate of the first tacton in the sequence, 46% ± 3.4 recognition rate of second tacton in sequence and 29% ± 3.3 rate of both tactons in sequence recognition. Data indicates that a significantly higher rate of detection of at least one object is feasible. It is expected that with additional training, recognition rates would increase while latency time is reduced. This is an ongoing project, in which data continues to be collected.