Apparent Movement in Vibrotactile Displays

Abstract

Ss were required to judge the direction of apparent movement when vibrators were applied to the skin and sequentially energized. Small skin contactors and intervibrator distances were used. Errors in judgment were significantly less frequent when 4 vibrators were used than with 2 vibrators. Directionality judgments made from stimulation of the skin of the abdomen resulted in significantly fewer errors than from stimulation of the palmar surface of the hand. Intra-stimulator intervals shorter than 48 msec. bring significantly more erroneous reports than do the longer intervals.