Straw-Like User Interface (II): A New Method of Presenting Auditory Sensations for a More Natural Experience

We have proposed a new type of audio-tactile interface called the Straw-like User Interface (SUI) that allowed users to virtually experience the sensations of drinking with straw. The sensations were created based on data of pressure, vibration and sound recorded during drinking with a straw. The device enabled us to develop many unique interfaces, facilitating extension of research fields related to tactile displays, from medical care to entertainment. However, with the previous system, the recorded data were replayed at the same speed without reference to the suction power, and so the sensation became unnatural. In this paper we propose a simple technique to preserve naturalness. We dynamically change the play list in accordance with the user’s behavior. We believe that the proposed method provides a simple approach to record-andreplay of audio-tactile information without needing a physical model.