Tap tactile presentation by airborne ultrasound

TL;DR

This paper introduces two novel airborne ultrasound methods for tactile feedback, enabling contactless tactile sensations of soft and rigid surfaces, demonstrated through virtual tapping experiences.

Contribution

It presents two new ultrasound-based tactile presentation methods, Amplitude Modulation and Lateral Modulation, for simulating different tactile sensations without physical contact.

Findings

Participants could distinguish between soft and rigid tactile stimuli.

The methods successfully simulate different tactile sensations in a virtual environment.

The approach enables contactless tactile interaction with virtual objects.

Abstract

The airborne ultrasound tactile display can present tactile information without direct contact. Using this technology, we developed two methods for simulating the tactile sensation of tapping an object with a finger: the Amplitude Modulation Method and the Lateral Modulation Method. The first method, Amplitude Modulation, simulates the tactile sensation of tapping a soft, deformable surface, like a deflated balloon. The second method, Lateral Modulation, simulates the tactile sensation of a rigid surface that easily resonates with vibrations, like a cymbal. In the demonstration, participants can experience the difference between these two tactile stimuli by tapping virtual objects displayed on a screen.