Two-way Communication through an Oral-based Tactile Interface: Preliminary Results

A two-way tactile communication system incorporating oral-based tactile modes is developed. The prototype system allows the user to both receive navigation cues, via a microfabricated flexible electrotactile palate display, and transmit information to the outside environment using a tongue operated device (TOD). The palate display consists of a flexible electrocutaneous-mode 7x7 electrode array for stimulating the palate. The TOD has four switches laid out in the cardinal directions with a fifth switch in the center. An oral-based tactile interface is realized by integrating the palate display and the TOD using a dental palate mold made from a silicone impression material. The system is programmed to test and simulate navigational guidance via two-way tactile communication. Preliminary human subject tests have been performed. Results indicate TOD force requirements influence performance, but adequate performance can be achieved within a relatively large range of input forces (one order of magnitude).