Pattern identification as a function of stimulation on a fingertip-scanned electrotactile display

Author

Kaczmarek, Kurt A. ; Haase, Steven J.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Orthopedics & Rehabilitation Medicine, Wisconsin Univ., Madison, WI, USA

Volume

11

Issue

3

fYear

2003

Firstpage

269

Lastpage

275

Abstract

Two studies were conducted to determine the effect of stimulation current on pattern perception on a 49-point fingertip-scanned electrotactile (electrocutaneous) display. Performance increased monotonically from near chance levels at the lowest subthreshold current levels tested to approximately 90% at the highest comfortable current levels. This suggests the existence of a tradeoff between spatial performance and usable "gray scale" range in electrotactile presentation of graphical information.

Keywords

bioelectric potentials; handicapped aids; touch (physiological); touch sensitive screens; vision defects; electrocutaneous display; fingertip-scanned electrotactile; graphical information; gray scale range; pattern identification; spatial performance; stimulation current effect; Computer displays; Computer graphics; Computer vision; Electrodes; Pins; Plastics; Skin; Speech synthesis; Subthreshold current; Testing; Adult; Electric Stimulation; Electrodes; Female; Fingers; Humans; Male; Pattern Recognition, Automated; Reproducibility of Results; Sensation; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sensory Aids; Sensory Thresholds; Skin; Skin Physiology; Task Performance and Analysis; Transducers;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1534-4320

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TNSRE.2003.816874

Filename

1231236