Paper Reading #14: TeslaTouch, Electrovibration for Touch Surfaces

Olivier Bau is a research scientist at Disney Research. He has received a PhD in computer science. with a focus on Human-Computer Interaction.
Ivan Poupyrev is a senior research scientist at Disney Research.
Ali Israr is a research scientist at Disney Research. He has received a PhD in mechanical engineering.
Chris Harrison is a research scientist at Disney Research.

This paper was presented at UIST 2010.

Summary


Hypothesis


The researchers proposed a touch screen device with new tactile feedback so that a user can feel the object on the surface.

Methods


In order to complete their test, researchers designed what they called the TeslaTouch apparatus. By running a very slight current through an insulator, they could simulate a given surface based on the wave type of the current.
The entire system consisted of the surface, combined with the projector, and IR emitter and detector.

To better equip the device to work with humans, they experimented with waves of different properties and sizes and had users classify their view of the wave.

They then experimented with "psychophysics" of the device. They measured the detection threshold of the electrovibrations and the JND (Just-noticeable-differences) of the electrovibrations. By testing for these thresholds, they could determine which electrovibrations were noticeable and which were detected.

Finally, they discussed various types of interactions that TeslaTouch could be used with. These include simulations, GUI widgets, and various other rubbing interactions.

Results


Through their human factors test, they discovered the various hertz and voltage combinations that users would classify as sticky/waxy, bumpy/smooth, pleasant/unpleasant, friction/vibration. This test would aid in the future development of the device.

With the psychophysics test, they were also able to determine the thresholds previously mentioned

Discussion


Feedback is one of the most lacking features of touch screen devices. With this kind of simple tactile feedback, touch screen displays could become much more usable and create an even deeper layer of interaction.

Typing on a virtual keyboard would feel much more natural and would allow a user to rely on tactile feed as opposed to only visual feedback.

One thing the researchers could have included in this paper was a larger field study of this TeslaTouch apparatus. I would be very interested to see how normal people react to the device and to understand what kind of applications they could visualize.