論文

Researchers have studied the discrimination thresholds between different vibrotactile signals under various conditions. Humans cannot recognize slight differences in vibrotactile stimuli that are smaller than the perception threshold. This is a constraint in the vibrotactile design used in practical applications. This article focuses on the vibrational feedback at the 'edge' between multiple areas, while previous studies have not considered this. We assume that the edge vibration not only emphasizes the presence of the edge itself, but also has an effect on the vibrotactile perception of the adjoining areas. Specifically, we hypothesize that the edge vibration would modify the user's ability to discriminate vibrotactile differences between adjoining areas. We conducted a user study to test this hypothesis. As a result, we found that presenting edge vibrations at the boundaries between adjacent textures makes it easier to discriminate the frequency and amplitude differences of the vibrations of those uneven textures. This article could increase the flexibility of vibrotactile design, and vibrotactile designers could use these results to design a wider variety of vibrations for adjacent areas.

In this paper, we explore the use of a real-time speech visualization overlay to help native English speakers (NES) reflect on their speech speed and allow them to understand how English as a Foreign Language speakers (EFLS) perceive their speech. Our visual system generates a sequence of bubbles based on the speaking speed overlaid close to the user's mouth; the faster the speaking speed, the denser the bubble sequence, and vice versa. The results suggest that the presence of the speech visualization helps NES to understand their speech speed, and subsequently, it helps EFLS to feel comfortable speaking during the online group discussion.

In this research, we aimed to expand humans' physical ability by reshaping natural physicalities that allow body transformation. By modifying the existing body parts, we proposed a system that changed humans' cognition of reality and their environment, and presented its use case. We conducted a study that explored the use of actions: (1) opening and closing of the pinnas (ears) and (2) pulling of the nose to change humans' body schema and humans' cognition of the environment. The results showed that people were able to perceive changes in the position of the pinnas in three different conditions (100% Open, 50% Open, 0% Open) with high accuracy. We also observed that opening and closing the pinnas could alter the cognition of the sound field, as opposed to the normal ears. Furthermore, we found that the feeling of a nose is extending was felt more by using the system. This finding implied that the modified body schema improved our recognition of the odor source and its position.

Building off of previous Human-Computer Interaction research on reminiscent and art therapy, this case study examines using a multi-modal album to help older residents with dementia engage with others while sharing portions of their life story. The narratives contained within the album were designed in cooperation with assisted care home residents with dementia. However, due to the progression of their dementia, adaptions to standard interviewing processes for gathering the narratives were needed. Through the use of multi-sensory stimulates (visual and somatic), over time, we were able to understand our participants' narratives as well as their personhood. Furthermore, the adaptions led to questioning the importance of narrative accuracy and the ultimate purpose of building the albums. The next phase is to evaluate the long-term effects of the creation process and the albums themselves.

In this paper, we introduce “Kinder BURU BURU cushion” a vibrotactile cushion that is used during storytelling time to grab the attention of children to help them to focus on the story. We conducted field tests using our system, which confirmed that children were more interested in a story when using our system compared to normal storytelling. For this research, we collaborated with a printing company and a picture book company, designed our system based on user studies at a kid’s space, and conducted empirical field experiments.

© Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature 2018. In this paper, we provide a rapid fabrication method to create customizable pneumatic haptic displays using 3D printing technology. Based on the 3d printed miniature airbag which is built form a simple modeling process, various shapes of the haptic display can be made. Not only altering the shape of a single airbag to make a one-dimensional haptic display, but also combining multi airbags as spacial distributed to construct a multi DoF haptic display is possible. The 3D printed airbag is scalable, light to wear and waterproof. Each airbag is inflated by a full-range speaker which mounted on a closed air chamber where the air is transferred back and forth through a tiny nozzle to the airbag. So both low-frequency pressure and high-frequency vibration could be presented. Our technical evaluation identified that the airbag is capable of presenting a wide range of mechanical vibration from 2 Hz to 800 Hz. In addition, a user study was done to investigate the capability of rendering multi degree-of-freedom tactile sensation. The average accuracy of distinguishing directional information is over 80%.

© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2018. In demonstration, we show sharing visual and tactile experience using own finger. In our daily life, we often share our experience, such as seeing or hearing, using own smartphone. However, up still now, touch experience is not possible to share in social network services. Here, we propose a capturing sensor, which is able to capture texture and surface by user’s finger, for smartphone device.

© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2018. This paper describes a novel tactile module that can provide both vibratory and thermal feedback onto the skin. The module is composed of two different components; miniaturized vibrator and four units of Peltier devices. The dimension of the vibro-thermal tactile feedback device is 16 × 32 × 7 mm, which is small enough for attaching to fingerpad. We describe basic concept of this module, and the state of current prototype including possible applications.

© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2018. In this study, we have designed the device to collect haptic sensations from the surrounding environments and created objects to experience further. We hold on the workshop to verify the effectiveness of the device. As the result this device showed that children became interested in haptic and stimulated creativity.