In the present study, a vibrotactile feedback device for spatial guidance was evaluated in a tracking task paradigm. Participants (N = 18) had to translate and rotate virtual objects according to the vibrotactile vs. verbal cues without visual information. Both types of spatial guidance were evaluated using objective performance data (i.e. speed, accuracy) as well as subjective judgments. Results indicate that distinguishing spatial cues during the translational task was more difficult when being guided by vibrotactile feedback compared to verbal feedback. Nevertheless, individuals with vibrotactile guidance showed better performance at rotational tasks. Implications for the further design process and other areas of application are discussed.
Telepresent tasks involve removal of the human operator from an immediate working area and relocation to a remote environment that offers the operator all necessary control features. In this remote location, the operator must be provided with adequate feedback information such that the task at hand can be effectively executed. This research explores the effectiveness of various feedback methods. More specifically, graphical feedback in the form of video streamed images is compared against rendered 3D models, the overall effectiveness of haptic feedback is analyzed, and the influences of sensory augmentation and sensory substitution are examined. This study involved 48 participants, each of whom executed a simple clockwork assembly task under various feedback mechanisms. The results support the use of 3D models as opposed to live video streams for graphical presentation, utilization of haptic feedback (which was found to significantly enhance operation effectiveness), and the use of sensory augmentation and substitution under specific circumstances.
IntroductionMicrosystems technology deals with manipulated objects that are less than 1 mm in size or for which an assembly accuracy of less than 200 m is required. This kind of miniaturization is becoming increasingly important for automotive, medical, and telecommunication components. Today, the assembly process of these components is faced with at least two major problems: the motor demand on the human operator is high due to the requirement of accurate results, and, to avoid any contamination, the human operator has to work in a clean room. Both factors are a threat to good working conditions and can be avoided through the use of telepresent technology. In telepresent operations, the assembly process is performed by a slave manipulator controlled by a human operator located in an external environment. This remote assembly changes several aspects of the working environment.First, the visual presentation as well as the operator's actions must be scaled such that the user gets an impression of being in a "normally" sized environment. The scaling is not the only parameter that has to be adapted at the operator end. The visual image can either be a camera-recorded real video stream or a rendered 3D model. The video setup is easier to apply because no models need to be created. Furthermore, no synchronization is necessary as there are no reality drifts as observed in virtual models. In a 3D model, distracting infor-
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