Full citation
Enriquez, M., MacLean, K. E. (2008). "Backward and Common-Onset Masking of Vibrotactile Stimuli", Brain Research Bulletin, Special Issue on Robotics and Neuroscience, vol. 75, no. 6. pages 761-769, 2008.
Abstract
To inform the design of haptic information displays for noisy environments, we investigated two mechanisms for temporal masking of vibrotactile
stimuli (backwards and common-onset) using a commodity display. We used a two-channel setup, presenting stimuli to the middle and ring finger of
a participant’s right hand. The stimuli consisted of 250 Hz sinusoidal waveforms displayed at a fixed amplitude in various combinations of duration
(0, 30 or 300 ms) and stimulus onset asynchrony (0 or 30 ms). In anticipation of future embedded applications where signals are deliberately
masked but levels cannot be individualized, signals were standardized at conservative (harder to mask) levels. Our results confirm the existence of
a statistically significant masking effect for both forms of haptic masking explored, with common-onset exhibiting a significantly larger masking
effect than backwards. However, an analysis of confidence in response levels shows no difference between the two successful masking techniques.
We discuss mechanisms that could be responsible for these results, which have implications for the design of user interfaces that rely on tactile
transmission of information.
stimuli (backwards and common-onset) using a commodity display. We used a two-channel setup, presenting stimuli to the middle and ring finger of
a participant’s right hand. The stimuli consisted of 250 Hz sinusoidal waveforms displayed at a fixed amplitude in various combinations of duration
(0, 30 or 300 ms) and stimulus onset asynchrony (0 or 30 ms). In anticipation of future embedded applications where signals are deliberately
masked but levels cannot be individualized, signals were standardized at conservative (harder to mask) levels. Our results confirm the existence of
a statistically significant masking effect for both forms of haptic masking explored, with common-onset exhibiting a significantly larger masking
effect than backwards. However, an analysis of confidence in response levels shows no difference between the two successful masking techniques.
We discuss mechanisms that could be responsible for these results, which have implications for the design of user interfaces that rely on tactile
transmission of information.
Paper
SPIN Authors
Year Published
2008