TouchMark: Partial Tactile Feedback Design for Upper Limb Rehabilitation in Virtual Reality

Area of Science:

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Rehabilitation Engineering
• Virtual Reality

Background:

• Virtual Reality (VR) is increasingly used in medical rehabilitation, incorporating visual and tactile cues.
• Patients with upper limb hemiplegia require specialized tools for VR-based rehabilitation, as traditional controllers are inadequate.
• Enhancing user embodiment in VR is crucial for effective training, particularly for virtual hand interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of partial tactile feedback from tangible handles on user embodiment in Virtual Reality.
• To propose and evaluate a design concept, TouchMark, for partial tactile stimuli to bridge physical and virtual interactions.
• To assess tactile and comfort perceptions of tangible handles for rehabilitation purposes.

Main Methods:

• Three experiments were conducted, involving healthy users and patients with upper limb hemiplegia.
• Study 1 evaluated tactile and comfort perceptions of various tangible handles in a non-VR setting.
• Studies 2 and 3 explored the effects of different TouchMark forms on embodiment during virtual tasks in VR.

Main Results:

• Tangible handles with haptic line and ring forms (TouchMark) significantly enhanced user embodiment compared to no stimulation.
• The proposed TouchMark approach improved embodiment, especially for patients undergoing VR rehabilitation.
• Both healthy users and patients reported on tactile and comfort perceptions of the handles.

Conclusions:

• Partial tactile feedback from specialized tangible handles, particularly the TouchMark concept, can significantly improve embodiment in Virtual Reality.
• This approach offers a low-cost, innovative solution to enhance virtual interaction experiences, especially for users with limited VR experience and patients.
• The findings support the use of tailored tactile feedback in VR for more effective rehabilitation and user engagement.