scholarly journals Fundamental Perceptual Characterization of an Integrated Tactile Display with Electrovibration and Electrical Stimuli

Micromachines ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seiya Komurasaki ◽  
Hiroyuki Kajimoto ◽  
Hiroki Ishizuka

Tactile displays have been widely studied for many decades. Although multiple tactile stimuli are more effective to improve the quality of the presented tactile sensation, most tactile displays provide a single tactile stimulus. An integrated tactile display with electrovibration and electrical stimuli is proposed herein. It is expected that vibrational friction, pressure and vibration can be presented at the same time through the tactile display. Also, these stimuli only require electrodes for stimulation. Therefore, the tactile display can be easily miniaturized and densely arrayed on a substrate. In this study, a tactile display is designed and fabricated using the micro-fabrication process. Furthermore, the display is evaluated. First, the relationship between a single stimulus and the perception is investigated. The electrovibration and electrical stimuli have a frequency dependence on perception. Second, whether the multiple stimuli with the electrovibration and electrical stimuli are perceivable by the subjects is also evaluated. The results indicate that the multiple tactile stimuli are perceivable by the subjects. Also, the possibility that the electrovibration and electrical stimuli affect each other is confirmed.

Micromachines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 313
Author(s):  
Seiya Komurasaki ◽  
Hiroyuki Kajimoto ◽  
Fusao Shimokawa ◽  
Hiroki Ishizuka

Unlike tactile displays that use mechanical actuators, electrode-type tactile displays can be easily integrated and miniaturized because they consist of electrodes and insulators. Electrical tactile displays only require electrodes and use an electric current to stimulate vibration or pressure. Likewise, electrostatic friction tactile displays also only require electrodes and an insulator and can induce changes in friction between the display and a fingerpad. We have developed a tactile display that integrates electrical and electrostatic friction stimulation owing to their affinity to microfabrication techniques. This tactile display can provide both pressure and friction at the same time. In this study, we presented an elongated bar shape via the tactile display to experimental participants. The experimental results showed that a tactile display employing multiple stimuli as opposed to a single stimulus can induce the perception of larger shapes.


Author(s):  
Atena Fadaei Jouybari ◽  
Matteo Franza ◽  
Oliver Alan Kannape ◽  
Masayuki Hara ◽  
Olaf Blanke

AbstractThere is a steadily growing number of mobile communication systems that provide spatially encoded tactile information to the humans’ torso. However, the increased use of such hands-off displays is currently not matched with or supported by systematic perceptual characterization of tactile spatial discrimination on the torso. Furthermore, there are currently no data testing spatial discrimination for dynamic force stimuli applied to the torso. In the present study, we measured tactile point localization (LOC) and tactile direction discrimination (DIR) on the thoracic spine using two unisex torso-worn tactile vests realized with arrays of 3 × 3 vibrotactile or force feedback actuators. We aimed to, first, evaluate and compare the spatial discrimination of vibrotactile and force stimulations on the thoracic spine and, second, to investigate the relationship between the LOC and DIR results across stimulations. Thirty-four healthy participants performed both tasks with both vests. Tactile accuracies for vibrotactile and force stimulations were 60.7% and 54.6% for the LOC task; 71.0% and 67.7% for the DIR task, respectively. Performance correlated positively with both stimulations, although accuracies were higher for the vibrotactile than for the force stimulation across tasks, arguably due to specific properties of vibrotactile stimulations. We observed comparable directional anisotropies in the LOC results for both stimulations; however, anisotropies in the DIR task were only observed with vibrotactile stimulations. We discuss our findings with respect to tactile perception research as well as their implications for the design of high-resolution torso-mounted tactile displays for spatial cueing.


2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (T4) ◽  
pp. 241-248
Author(s):  
Loc Cam Luu ◽  
Da Linh Ho ◽  
Phu Chi Hoang ◽  
Tri Nguyen ◽  
Van Thi Thuy Nguyen ◽  
...  

In seafood processing plants, industrial waste water discharge reached virtually the level B (QCVN 11-MT:2015/BTNMT) after using mechanical, physicochemical and biological wastewater treatment methods. However, their COD values (COD = 20-120 mg/L) were not qualified for allowable concentration of discharge requirement - level A (COD ≤ 75 mg/L) in many cases. In this paper, bio-treated seafood waster water was continually treated by TiO2 photocatalyst modified by doping Fe and N to degrade recalcitrant organic pollutants to obtain the A level water which can be resused. TiO2 modified by doping Fe and N were prepared and investigated the physico-chemicalproperties. The results showed that modified TiO2 had a lower band gap and more photoactivity than pure TiO2. Beside that, at the reaction conditions: reaction temperature 25 oC, dissolved oxygen concentration 7.6 mg/L and pH = 7, the optimal concentration of catalysts was determined (1.25 g/L). After 12 hours of treatment, COD removal efficiency on TiO2-Fe and TiO2-N catalysts attained 41.1 % and 64.3 %, respectively, and their COD values reached 49.3 and 29.9 mg/L, correspondingly. After treatment, the quality of waste water discharge met the level A (QCVN 11-MT:2015/BTNMT) and became a safety source for reusing (QCVN 08-MT:2015/BTNMT). In addition, the relationship between the characterization of modifed TiO2 and their activity was characterized.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 012-023
Author(s):  
Benson Chinweuba Udeh ◽  
Chidinma Lovelyn Ani ◽  
Monday Omotioma

Calcination of Nkalagu limestone for the production of agricultural quicklime is presented. It entails improving the quality of limestone through calcination process. Appropriate scientific instruments/techniques (x-ray diffractometer and scanning electron microscopy) were used for the characterization of the uncalcined and calcined limestone samples. Effects of calcination variables on the quicklime yield were examined. Central composite design of design expert software was used to optimize the calcination process. Analyses of the results revealed that calcite was the major limestone’s mineralogical composition. Quadratic model adequately described the relationship between quicklime yield and calcination factors of temperature, particle size and time. Quadratic model adequately described the relationship between quicklime yield and calcination factors of temperature, particle size and time. The optimum yield of 74.00% was obtained at optima operating conditions; temperature of 937.41 0C, particle size of 85.99µm and time of 3.7 hrs. Characteristics of the quicklime showed that the calcination improved the quality of the sample in terms of mineralogical properties. It is recommended that the generated model should be used to develop chemical plant/equipment for limestone calcination process.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atena Fadaei Jouybari ◽  
Matteo Franza ◽  
Oliver A Kannape ◽  
Masayuki Hara ◽  
Olaf Blanke

There is a steadily growing number of mobile communication systems that provide spatially encoded tactile information to the humans' torso. However, the increased use of such hands-off displays is currently not matched with or supported by systematic perceptual characterization of tactile spatial discrimination on the torso. Furthermore, there are currently no data testing spatial discrimination for dynamic force stimuli applied to the torso. In the present study, we measured tactile point localization (PL) and tactile direction discrimination (DD) on the thoracic spine using two unisex torso-worn tactile vests realized with arrays of 3x3 vibrotactile or force feedback actuators. We aimed to, firstly, evaluate and compare the spatial discrimination of vibrotactile and force stimulations on the thoracic spine and, secondly, to investigate the relationship between the PL and DD results across stimulations. Thirty-four healthy participants performed both tasks with both vests. Tactile accuracies for vibrotactile and force stimulations were 60.7% and 54.6% for the PL task; 71.0% and 67.7% for the DD task, respectively. Performance correlated positively with both stimulations, although accuracies were higher for the vibrotactile than for the force stimulation across tasks, arguably due to specific properties of vibrotactile stimulations. We observed comparable directional anisotropies in the PL results for both stimulations; however, anisotropies in the DD task were only observed with vibrotactile stimulations. We discuss our findings with respect to tactile perception research as well as their implications for the design of high-resolution torso-mounted tactile displays for spatial cueing.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 2064
Author(s):  
Ségolène Fleury ◽  
Virginie Van Wymelbeke-Delannoy ◽  
Bruno Lesourd ◽  
Paul Tronchon ◽  
Isabelle Maître ◽  
...  

Objective. In this study, we focus on elderly people (≥70 years old) benefiting from a home delivery meal service as part of a social welfare program. We aimed to: (i) assess the gap between the recommended and actual nutritional intake in this population and (ii) study the relationship between the intake of nutrients and the variables characterizing the participants’ health and nutritional status. Design. A dietary survey (24-hour record) was conducted during a home interview, with 64 people receiving a home delivery meal service (75% women; 70–97 years old). At the same time, the participants answered questionnaires assessing their nutritional and health status. Results. Our data showed that the consumption of 70 to 80% participants was not sufficient for reaching the nutritional recommendations for energy and macronutrients. Additionally, the data showed that the lower the energy and protein intakes, the higher the risk of malnutrition. In addition, one third of the participants were both overweight or obese and at risk of undernutrition or undernourished. Our study demonstrated that the heavier the person, the more difficult it was for them to meet the nutritional recommendations based on kilograms of body weight. Finally, individuals receiving two to three delivered meals per day had higher energy and protein intakes than those receiving a single meal. Conclusion. These results suggest that it is important that home meal delivery companies improve the quality of their meals and service so that their recipients can better meet nutritional recommendations.


Author(s):  
Margherita Peruzzini ◽  
Maura Mengoni ◽  
Michele Germani

This paper presents a novel study on the simulation of material texture by means of electro-tactile stimuli and details the effects on the users’ ability to recognize and discriminate different material classes. The research exploits a novel tactile display to simulate material texture and validates the adopted simulation strategy by experimental testing. The tactile system elaborates data from real material samples and combines electrical stimuli and mechanical vibration to reproduce both roughness and texture coarseness sensations. Then, an experimental protocol based on the theory of Psychophysics is defined to carry out system calibration and tests with users. The research aims at validating the proposed simulation strategy and checking the user response on virtual tactile stimuli. Experimentations were carried out to reproduce virtual material texture and measure the users’ ability to distinguish different virtual materials and to recognize the material class. Experimental results provide interesting details about tactile perception mechanisms and validate the adopted approach for tactile signals’ recognition and material class discrimination.


Author(s):  
D. F. Blake ◽  
L. F. Allard ◽  
D. R. Peacor

Echinodermata is a phylum of marine invertebrates which has been extant since Cambrian time (c.a. 500 m.y. before the present). Modern examples of echinoderms include sea urchins, sea stars, and sea lilies (crinoids). The endoskeletons of echinoderms are composed of plates or ossicles (Fig. 1) which are with few exceptions, porous, single crystals of high-magnesian calcite. Despite their single crystal nature, fracture surfaces do not exhibit the near-perfect {10.4} cleavage characteristic of inorganic calcite. This paradoxical mix of biogenic and inorganic features has prompted much recent work on echinoderm skeletal crystallography. Furthermore, fossil echinoderm hard parts comprise a volumetrically significant portion of some marine limestones sequences. The ultrastructural and microchemical characterization of modern skeletal material should lend insight into: 1). The nature of the biogenic processes involved, for example, the relationship of Mg heterogeneity to morphological and structural features in modern echinoderm material, and 2). The nature of the diagenetic changes undergone by their ancient, fossilized counterparts. In this study, high resolution TEM (HRTEM), high voltage TEM (HVTEM), and STEM microanalysis are used to characterize tha ultrastructural and microchemical composition of skeletal elements of the modern crinoid Neocrinus blakei.


Author(s):  
A.K. Rai ◽  
A.K. Petford-Long ◽  
A. Ezis ◽  
D.W. Langer

Considerable amount of work has been done in studying the relationship between the contact resistance and the microstructure of the Au-Ge-Ni based ohmic contacts to n-GaAs. It has been found that the lower contact resistivity is due to the presence of Ge rich and Au free regions (good contact area) in contact with GaAs. Thus in order to obtain an ohmic contact with lower contact resistance one should obtain a uniformly alloyed region of good contact areas almost everywhere. This can possibly be accomplished by utilizing various alloying schemes. In this work microstructural characterization, employing TEM techniques, of the sequentially deposited Au-Ge-Ni based ohmic contact to the MODFET device is presented.The substrate used in the present work consists of 1 μm thick buffer layer of GaAs grown on a semi-insulating GaAs substrate followed by a 25 Å spacer layer of undoped AlGaAs.


2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 76-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith Meessen ◽  
Verena Mainz ◽  
Siegfried Gauggel ◽  
Eftychia Volz-Sidiropoulou ◽  
Stefan Sütterlin ◽  
...  

Abstract. Recently, Garfinkel and Critchley (2013) proposed to distinguish between three facets of interoception: interoceptive sensibility, interoceptive accuracy, and interoceptive awareness. This pilot study investigated how these facets interrelate to each other and whether interoceptive awareness is related to the metacognitive awareness of memory performance. A sample of 24 healthy students completed a heartbeat perception task (HPT) and a memory task. Judgments of confidence were requested for each task. Participants filled in questionnaires assessing interoceptive sensibility, depression, anxiety, and socio-demographic characteristics. The three facets of interoception were found to be uncorrelated and interoceptive awareness was not related to metacognitive awareness of memory performance. Whereas memory performance was significantly related to metamemory awareness, interoceptive accuracy (HPT) and interoceptive awareness were not correlated. Results suggest that future research on interoception should assess all facets of interoception in order to capture the multifaceted quality of the construct.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document