A Just Noticeable Difference for Perceiving Virtual Surfaces through Haptic Interaction

Perception of virtual surfaces via force feedback (i.e., haptic interaction through the sense of touch) is a popular topic in a virtual environment (VE). However, few studies reported on a just noticeable difference (JND) of perceiving convex/concave, vertically-placed virtual surfaces under the influence of force directions. We postulated a JND-critical hypothesis that there is a minimum amplitude subtended such surfaces for human perception under force directions. Our empirical results confirmed this hypothesis, suggesting an amplitude range of 1.19– 1.95 mm for distinguishing the virtual surfaces in a VE. This finding would be potential for creating a 3D VE for haptic interaction.