Tactile communication systems

Tactile communication systems based on vibrotactile signals have been developed as sensory substitution devices for those with visual, auditory, or vestibular impairments and to assist users in spatial orientation and navigation in unfamiliar environments. One of the main challenges in using tactile displays to compensate for sensory loss in other modalities or to overcome the limitations of visual and auditory information overload is in determining what type of information can be presented tactually and which parameters of stimulation can be used to convey these messages effectively. Psychophysical studies of vibrotactile perception provide a framework that assists in determining which stimulus dimensions and ranges of values can be used to create tactile patterns, known as tactons. A number of experiments have been conducted in which the ability of participants to identify tactons presented at different sites on the body has been measured. The results from this research indicate that tactons created by varying the spatial location, number, and temporal sequence of activation of motors in a tactile display can be accurately identified. They further demonstrate the potential of using two-dimensional tactile displays to present information, and the feasibility of creating tactile communication systems that are easily learned.