Implementation of Tension-Based Compact Necklace-Type Haptic Device Achieving Widespread Transmission of...

The haptic sensation of low-frequency vibration plays a vital role in the music listening experience, but it can be enjoyed only in certain facilities and environments. Many haptic devices have been proposed to convey music audio-induced vibration for various situations. Such devices require powerful, low-frequency vibration output and transmission over a wide area. Making such devices small and user-friendly is difficult, hindering their popularity. To promote haptic devices for music listening, this paper describes a method for developing a practical device using motors and a thread and evaluates this method's effectiveness. The proposed necklace-type device is small (about 55 × 58 × 15 mm), lightweight (58.5 g), and easy to wear, making it suitable for use during everyday travel. In addition, it can transmit low-frequency (20 Hz) vibrations, whose amplitude exceeds airborne vibration in a nightclub, to a wide area across the chest and neck, with a total power consumption of approximately 2 W. Our proposed method will contribute to the development of practical and high-performance haptic devices for music listening.