Recent Developments in Haptic Devices Designed for Hearing-Impaired People: A Literature Review

Area of Science:

• Assistive Technology
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Haptic devices utilize tactile stimuli to convey information, offering an alternative sensory channel.
• These technologies can augment or replace sensory input, particularly benefiting individuals with sensory impairments.
• Recent developments focus on applying haptic feedback for the deaf and hard-of-hearing population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and analyze recent developments in haptic devices for individuals with hearing impairments.
• To categorize existing haptic devices to understand the current landscape.
• To identify future research directions in this specialized field.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search adhering to PRISMA guidelines.
• Extraction and analysis of relevant information from selected research papers.
• Categorization of haptic devices based on their functionalities and applications.

Main Results:

• Identification of key trends and innovations in haptic device technology for the hearing impaired.
• A structured categorization of current haptic devices.
• Highlighting of promising areas for future research and development.

Conclusions:

• Haptic devices represent a growing area of assistive technology for the deaf and hard-of-hearing.
• Further research is needed to optimize haptic device design and application for this demographic.
• This review provides a valuable resource for researchers in haptic technology and human-computer interaction.