• 대한인간공학회지
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.1-12
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• 1999

This study investigated human operator's perceptual and psychophysical responses to vibrotactile stimulation on various parts of the hand. Using a small vibrotactile display, the effects of three mechanical parameters consisting vibrotactile stimulations, i.e., vibration frequency, pulse-width modulation duty cycle, and number of contactors, on differential thresholds were examined at five different loci of the hand. It was observed that differential threshold varies with vibration frequency and number of active contactors. Differential sensitivity was the greatest at the vibration frequency of 120 Hz. The differential sensitivity was not found to be affected by loci on the hand. The area of stimulation on the hand was also found to be significant in that the sensitivity increased with the number of active contactors. It should be noted that the conclusions from this study generally correspond to those from the previous study on the absolute sensitivity. which means that tactile sensitivity to vibrotactile stimulations can be controlled with a systematic and consistent passion for emulating normal everyday contact on human hands in teleoperation and virtual reality applications.

• 대한인간공학회지
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.1-10
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• 1998

The objective of this study is to investigate hwnan operator's perceptual and psychophysical responses to vibrotactile stimulation on various parts of the hand. Using a small vibrotactile display, five different loci of the hand along with two other mechanical parameters consisting vibrotactile stimulations, which are vibration frequency and number of active contactors, were examined for the effects on absolute thresholds. All test variables were found to have significant effects on thresholds. It was observed that absolute threshold is a function of vibration frequency and number of active contactors. Tactile sensitivity was the greatest at the vibration frequency of 240 Hz, and the fingertip was found to be the most sensitive locus on the hand. The area of stimulation on the hand was also found to be significant in that the sensitivity increased with the number of active contactors. The results of the study generally supported those of other previous studies. It should also be noted, however, that the conclusions from the study should be limited to the absolute sensitivity, not to the suprathreshold intensities of normal everyday contact with the hands.

• 대한인간공학회지
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• 제32권4호
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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.

• 제어로봇시스템학회논문지
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• 제20권8호
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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.

• 한국정밀공학회지
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• 제29권7호
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• pp.705-710
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• 2012

Research involving discomfort or pain related to haptic vibratory stimulation the for prosthesis users of myoelectrical hand is very lacking. Our objective of this study was to evaluate the displeasure and sensitivity of areas in forearm using vibration stimulation system between upper limb amputees and non-amputees. Twenty transradial amputees and forty non-amputees (20 youth, 20 elderly) were involved. We set up custom-made vibration stimulation system including eight actuators (4 medial parts and 4 lateral parts) and GUI-based acquisition system, to investigate changes of residual somatosensory sensibility and displeasure at proximal 25% of forearm. Eight vibration actuators were attached to the circumference of proximal 25% point of forearm at regular intervals. Sensitivity tests were used to stimulate the 120Hz and discomfort experiment was used to 37 ~ 223Hz. The subjective responses were evaluated by 10 point scale. The results showed that both groups were similar in sensitive areas. Response at around of radius was most sensitive than other areas in all subjects. Elderly group do not appear discomfort of vibrotactile; however, youth group and amputee presented discomfort of vibrotactile. Prosthesis with a vibrotactile feedback system should be developed considering the sensitivity. Furthermore, Future studies should investigate the scope of application of that principle.

• 한국의학물리학회지:의학물리
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.128-133
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• 2004

기능적 자기공명영상을 이용하여 진동자의 자극에 따른 감각 피질의 반응에 대하여 연구하였다 주로 40 Hz 이하의 주파수에 반응하는 촉각소체의 혈류반응을 조사하기 위하여 8, 15, 그리고 25 Hz의 주파수를 사용하였다. 사용되고 있는 진동자의 한계를 극복한 공기의 압력을 이용하여 진동할 수 있는 진동자를 특수 제작하였다. 예측한 바와 같이 감각 피질의 촉각소체 부위가 주파수에 따라 반응하는 모습을 볼 수 있었다. 주파수 대 반응 면적을 각 pixel의 개수와 signal percent change로 분석하여 주파수가 증가할수록 signal percent change의 분포는 넓어지고 더 많은 pixel들이 반응한다는 것을 알 수 있었다.

• 한국정밀공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국정밀공학회 2013년도 춘계학술대회 논문집
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• pp.1619-1620
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• 2013

• 한국의학물리학회지:의학물리
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.159-166
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• 2006

기능성 자기공명영상을 이용하여 진동자극에 대한 감각피질의 비선형성에 대하여 연구하였다. 진동자극은 25 Hz의 주파수로 5개의 각기 다른 진동 자극 기간, 2초, 4초, 8초, 12초 그리고 16초와 함께 20초의 무자극 주기와 pseudo-random순서로 구성되었다. 감각피질에 대한 자극 기간의 변화에 따른 선형성을 이해하기 위하여 두 다른 방법(시스템의 선형성 조사법과 gamma-variate 함수를 적용하여 impulse response함수를 구하는 방법)을 사용하여 혈류반응 함수를 분석하였는데, 그 결과는 거의 비슷하였다. 감각피질에서의 BOLD 반응은 8초보다 작은 자극 기간 동안에는 비선형이고 8초 이상일 때는 선형성을 보였다. 자극 기간의 함수로 Impulse response 함수의 진폭, 면적, 피크까지의 시간, FWHM을 계산하였고 진폭과 면적의 크기는 자극 기간이 증가할 때 감소함을 보여줌으로써 자극 기간 8초에서 BOLD 반응이 비선형성에서 선형성으로 변함을 뒷받침해 주었다.

• 한국HCI학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국HCI학회 2007년도 학술대회 1부
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• pp.881-886
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• 2007

오감 융합 정보 시대가 도래한다. 오감 융합은 감각 정보의 전이 기술 개발로 가능하다. 본 연구는 청각 정보의 촉각 정보 전이에 대한 연구이다. WMPlayer10SDK는 마이크로소프트사의 윈도우즈 미디어 플레이어(Windows Media Player, WMP)를 전용 소프트웨어 기반으로 하는 Plug-in 개발툴이다. WMPlayer10SDK 시스템은 WMP 내에서의 비디오와 오디오의 신호 정보를 추출하는 부분을 제공한다. 이를 이용하여 촉각 디스플레이(Tactile Display)장치인 Pos Tactor를 연동하여 음성 신호에서 진동 촉각을 제시하는 시스템을 개발하였다. 음성신호는 8bit, 16bit, 24bit, 32bit로 구분되며 각각의 주파수와 음폭의 Scale을 계산하여 그 수치를 시리얼 통신을 사용하여 통신포트(COM1)에 38400bps로 전달하여 구동하게 하였다. 이를 이용하여 음악을 촉감으로 느끼는 뮤직슈트(music suit)를 개발 하였다. 그러므로 뮤직슈트의 적용된 기술은 청각적 체험을 촉각적 체험을 할 수 있는 오감 융합 기술의 기초 기술로 제공 될 수 있다.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• 제17권11호
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• pp.3064-3082
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• 2023

During the last decade, several Electronic Orientation Aids devices have been proposed to solve the autonomy problems of visually impaired people. When hearing is considered the primary sense for Visually Impaired people (VI) and it is generally loaded with the environment, the use of tactile sense can be considered a solution to transmit directional information. This paper presents a new wearable haptic system based on four motors implemented in shoes, while six directions can be played. This study aims to introduce an interface design and investigate an appropriate means of spatial information delivery through haptic sense. The first experiment of the proposed system was performed with 15 users in an indoor environment. The results showed that the users were able to recognize, with high accuracy, the directions displayed on their feet. The second experiment was conducted in an outdoor environment with five blindfolded users who were guided along 120 meters. The users, guided only by the haptic system, successfully reached their destinations. The potential of tactile-foot stimulation to help VI understand Electronic Orientation Aids (EOA) instructions was discussed, and future challenges were defined.