Haptic perception of friction—correlating friction measurements of skin against polymer surfaces with subjective evaluations of the surfacesʹ grip

Measuring the tribological attributes of human skin is of limited value when it comes to haptic perception. Although recent studies discuss coefficients of friction of skin against various materials, no hints are given on how humans perceive these moments of touch. The authors have analysed in how far tribological measurements correlate to the subjective perception of grip and slipperiness by using a particularly designed haptic test device. The results show the poor correlation between the coefficient of dynamic friction and the perceived gliding quality of a surface.