Improving Cyclists Training with Tactile Feedback on Feet

This paper explores how tactile feedback can support cyclist in order to fulfill user-defined training programs. Therefore, actuators are integrated in cyclists’ shoes. The rhythm the cyclist should pedal is communicated via tactile feedback so that the heart rate is kept in an interval which is, for example, optimal for increasing stamina. After a preliminary study, which was used to gather the optimal position for the actuators on feet, a working prototype of such a system was developed. This prototype was tested in a preliminary study by two participants in the wild. They were able to understand the communicated tactile feedback, enjoyed using our system and stated that they could imagine using such a system regularly. This indicates that communicating tactile feedback via the user’s feet is another application domain where vibration signals can be of high benefit and can be used to communicate information to the user as audio or visual information are not appropriate.