Vibrotactile system for the replication of textures

Abstract

This article explores a tactile interface prototype made to recreate simulated textures using tactile sensations. The device works with vibration patterns found in a small area of the hand. It was tested on 30 people who evaluated the difference between 3 artificial surfaces presented to them and found similarities with known textures. Using a grading system of 1 to 10, considering 5 as the mean value, the difference between texture 1 and 2 and between 2 and 3 was valued at an average of 7, with a p-value < 0.01. An average of 9 was given to the difference between texture 1 and 3 with a p-value < 0.01. The above results indicates that the three textures were distinguishable from each other. Additionally, the majority of the participants interpreted the first texture as a corrugated or gravel surface (70%), the second texture as a wavy texture similar to uneven paving (64%), and the third texture was interpreted as a smooth surface like that of fabric or a very fine granite (60%). A development of this type has multiple applications of different areas of Bioengineering since it increases the effect of immersion in a virtual environment of simulation and it can be linked to kinesthetic interfaces to compliment the force feedback with the effect of superficial texture in the interaction with a virtual object.