Roughness Modulation of Real Materials Using Electrotactile Augmentation

In this paper, we present a roughness modulation technique that employs electrotactile augmentation to alter material texture perception, which is conducted through mechanically unconstrained touch. A novel electrotactile augmented reality system that superimposes modulating nerve activity onto afferent nerves at the middle phalanx of a finger is described. We conducted a user study in which participants were requested to rate the roughness of real materials that were explored using the system. The results indicated that participants could perceive themodulated fineand macro-roughness via the electrotactile augmentation.