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Reduction of Electrotactile Perception Threshold Using Background Thermal Stimulation

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Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems ((LNNS,volume 319))

Abstract

Electrotactile displays reproduce tactile properties of an object such as texture and shape to provide feedback in human-machine interactions. Electrotactile perception threshold (EPT) is a critical psychophysical parameter in designing a safe display as prolonged usage causes skin irritation. This study's main objective was to reduce EPT with background thermal stimulation (BTS) and analyze the qualitative and quantitative aspects of EPT with and without BTS. A psychophysical experiment was conducted to measure EPT with and without BTS (+7 °C)) over a wide range of stimulus frequencies of EPT from 20 Hz to 640 Hz. Findings from these experiments showed a reduction in the EPT (∆EPT), which was 13% to 17% (with an average of 15%). Reduced EPT may provide safer and comfortable electrotactile displays for prolonged usage.

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Ray, R.K., Manivannan, M. (2022). Reduction of Electrotactile Perception Threshold Using Background Thermal Stimulation. In: Ahram, T., Taiar, R. (eds) Human Interaction, Emerging Technologies and Future Systems V. IHIET 2021. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol 319. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-85540-6_42

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-85540-6_42

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-85539-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-85540-6

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