• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 2021

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to find out if it helps to improve static balance ability and weight bearing rate for chronic stroke patients with poor balance in clinical intervention through a method of correcting movement errors while performing a task by vibrotactile bio-feedback providing pressure information. Methods : Fifteen chronic stroke patients (12 male and 3 female) were participated in this study. To examine the effects of vibrotactile bio-feedback and general standing without bio-feedback on static balance ability and weight distribution symmetric index in all subjects randomized with R Studio. The static balance ability and weight distribution symmetric index of the participants was evaluated using a force plate. A paired t-test was used for comparison of each conditions. Statistical significance was set at α=0.05. Results : The comparisons of static balance ability and weight distribution symmetric index in chronic stroke patients after two different condition are as follows. In the static balance ability and weight distribution symmetric index, the vibrotactile feedback providing pressure information showed a significant difference compared to none feedback (p<.001). Conclusion : The vibrotactile bio-feedback providing pressure information in real time can support an improve in static balance ability, uniform weight bearing rehabilitation in chronic stroke patients. In the future, it is hoped that a follow-up study that provides a better direction of intervention compared to various feedback interventions commonly used in clinical practice.

• 한국HCI학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.02a
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• pp.1-5
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• 2009

In this paper, we develop a haptic mouse system for immersive human computer interaction. The proposed haptic mouse system can provide vibrotactile feedback as well as thermal feedback for realistic virtual experience. For vibrotactile and thermal feedback, we use eccentric motors, a solenoid, and a peltier actuator. In order to evaluate the proposed haptic mouse, we implement a racing game prototype system. The experimental result shows that our haptic mouse is expected to be useful in experiencing virtual world.

• Smart Media Journal
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.8-17
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• 2012

In this paper, we introduce the appoaches that aim to improve user experience in mobile device by the use of multiple vibration signal feedback, conducted by Haptics and Virtual Reality laboratory at POSTECH. We introduce current progresses of our 'Vibrotactile flow using multiple vibration actuators' and 'Real-time dual-channel haptic music player.' The 'Vibrotactile flow using multiple vibration actuators' produces vibrotactile flow sensations by using multiple actuators and that improves the information transfer on mobile devices. The 'Real-time dual-channel haptic music player' generates vibrotactile sensation by transforming auditory signal, which improves the user experience of mobile devices. These approaches can be good examples to fulfill the demands of better information transfer capability and user experience on mobile devices.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.143-149
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• 2013

This paper presents a new miniature haptic display to convey ample haptic information to a user of a handheld interface. There are buttons on interfaces or general electronic devices, but existing buttons provide haptic feedback of only one passive pattern to a user. Because humans perceive tactile and kinesthetic information simultaneously when they handle objects the proposed actuator provides both sensations at once. It is able to generate various levels of kinesthetic sensations when pressing a button under diverse situations. Also, vibrotactile feedback can be delivered for exciting haptic effects with numerous patterns. Its performance was evaluated in accordance with the resistive force by changing the intensity of the input current. Experiments show that the proposed actuator has the ability to provide numerous haptic sensations for more realistic and complex haptic experiences.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.83-100
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• 1997

The Human Sensory Feedback Laboratory, park of the Armstrong Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is involved in the development and evaluation of systems that provide sensory feedback to the human operator in telerobotic and virtual environment applications. Specific projects underway in the laboratory are primarily concerned with the information provided by force and vibrotactile feedback to the operator in dextrous manipulation tasks. Four specific research projects are described in the present report. These include : 1) experiments evaluating a 30-element fingertip display, which employs a titanium-nickel shape memory alloy actuator design to provide vibrotactile feedback about object shape and surface texture ; 2) of a fingertip force-feedback display for 3-dimensional information about object shape and suface texture ; 3) use of a force- feedback joystic to provide "force tunnel" information in pilot pursuit tracking tasks ; and 4) evaluations of a 7 degree-of-freedom exoskeleton used to control a robotic arm. Both basic and applied research questions are discussed.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.20 no.8
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• pp.795-800
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• 2014

In this paper, a vibrotactile pad system, T-mobile, is developed to provide vibrotactile cues for hand-held devices. A grooved and slim design is adapted to the back-side plane of the T-mobile, and the contact part consists of 12 vibrotactile panels which can operate independently and separately. To be isolated among vibrotactile actuators, the surface of the cover is divided into several pieces. Each vibrating module consists of a linear resonant actuator, a section of covering surface, and a vibration isolator. In order to provide spatial and directional information, sensory saltation and phantom sensation are applied to the T-mobile. To evaluate the developed device, two experiments were conducted to test whether directional information and spatial information can be successfully displayed by the device. Additionally, in order to find optimal stimulation by sensory saltation, an empirical test was conducted. As a result, spatial and directional information would be useful for displaying intuitive information for hand-held devices with vibrotactile feedback and reasonable near-optimal value for sensory saltation was obtained.

• Journal of Information Processing Systems
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.1102-1113
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• 2018

Vibrotactile feedback is widely used in designing non-visual interactions on mobile phones, such as message notification, non-visual reading, and blind use. In this work, novel vibrotactile codes are presented to implement a non-visual text reading system for mobile phones. The 26 letters of the English alphabet are formed in an index table with four rows and seven columns, and each letter is mapped using the codes of vibrations. Two kinds of vibrotactile codes are designed with the actuator's on and off states and with specific lengths (short and long) assigned to each state. To improve the efficiency of tactile perception and user satisfaction, three user experiments are conducted. The first experiment explores the maximum number of continuous vibrations and minimum vibration time of the actuator's on and off states that the human can perceive. The second experiment determines the minimum interval between continuous vibrations. The vibrotactile reading system is designed and evaluated in the third experiment according to the results of the two preceding experiments. Results show that the character reading accuracy reaches 91.7% and the character reading speed is approximately 617.8 ms. Our method has better reading efficiency and is easier to learn than the traditional Braille coding method.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.662-667
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• 2021

Vibrotactile feedback is a major function of the latest touch displays, which greatly improves the user's operability and immersion when interacting with the interface on the screen. In this study, we propose a vibrotactile actuator suitable for mounting on the back side of a mid- to large-sized display because it can generate a strong vibration output by applying an electrostatic force-based mechanism and can be manufactured in a thin flat panel type. The proposed actuator was developed in a structure capable of amplifying the vibration force by alternating up and down with electrostatic force by the upper and lower electrodes that are spaced apart from the electrically grounded mass suspended from a radial leaf spring. As a result of the performance evaluation, the developed bar-type module with two built-in actuators showed excellent vibration output of up to 3.3 g at 170 Hz, confirming the possibility of providing haptic feedback in medium and large touch displays.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.355-361
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• 2013

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the gender-differences in vibrotactile responses(sensitivity and displeasure) of residual forearm simulated by vibration stimulation in upper limb(trans-radial) amputees. Background: Several studies have reported that vibration stimulation using the haptic vibrator is one the most effective methods for delivering sensation to an amputees. However, few studies have reported the perception to haptic vibratory stimulus, particularly sensitivity and displeasure. Method: We set up a custom-made vibration stimulation system that included 6 actuators(3 medial parts and 3 lateral parts) and a graphical user interface(GUI)-based acquisition system to investigate changes in residual somatosensory sensibility and displeasure in the forearm of upper limb(trans-radial) amputees. Vibration actuators were attached at the 25%-point on the proximal forearm. Stimulation with 32Hz, 64Hz, or 149Hz of frequency was used for the sensitivity tests and with 32~257Hz of frequency was used for the discomfort experiments. The subjective responses were evaluated on a 10 point scale. Results: The results showed that vibrotactile sensory perception in male amputees were higher than that in female amputees. In male amputees, the response at lateral area of forearm was the most sensitive than medial area; but, female amputees showed similar sensitive areas. Subjects did not experience any discomfort during vibrotactile stimuli. Conclusion: Vibrotactile response in the amputees was dependent on gender as well as area stimulated by vibration. Application: The results might contribute to develop the vibrotactile feedback system for the amputees.

• Journal of Internet Computing and Services
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.23-29
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• 2023

As an effort to maximize the immersiveness of user experience in virtual reality, there have been constant efforts to provide a user with tactile sensation by providing haptic feedback. Most of the haptic feedback methods, however, can create only limited or unrealistic haptic sensations since they utilize affordable actuators such as a vibrotactile actuator. When it comes to martial arts training or a game, the limitation of such haptic feedback is apparent due to the significant difference between the physical impact of hitting an object and the sensation departed from a vibrotactile actuator. Noting this, we proposed a haptic impact system that can create a haptic impact when the user hits a virtual object with the fist. The haptic interface uses a quick-return mechanism that can deliver haptic impact feedback to a user's fist. The realism of the haptic impact was evaluated by conducting a human-subject experiment. The results indicate a significant effect of haptic feedback on the realism of the virtual impact.