Human Recognition Performance of Simple Spatial Vibrotactile Patterns on the Torso

This paper presents an experimental study on the fundamental human recognition performance of spatial tactile patterns applied on the torso. The patterns are made by either activating or deactivating four vibration actuators fastened to the body surface in a rectangular shape. Three body areas are considered for stimulation: the torso’s front (chest and stomach), back, and waist. A perceptual experiment shows that the human recognition accuracy of the spatial tactile patterns is high on the torso, over 91%. The accuracy depends on the stimulated body area and the number of simultaneously activated vibrations. In addition, the estimated information transfer ranges from 3.48 bits to 3.66 bits, indicating that the torso can transmit 11-12 spatial patterns without errors. These results can contribute to designing spatial tactile patterns that are effective for recently emerging haptic vests.