NaviChoker: Augmenting Pressure Sensation via Pneumatic Actuator
This addresses the problem of tactile information presentation for navigation assistance, but it is incremental as it builds on existing wearable and pneumatic technologies.
The researchers tackled the challenge of conveying tactile information by developing a wearable choker with pneumatic actuators that applies pressure around the neck to guide walking direction and timing, resulting in a functional prototype evaluated through experiments.
Many technologies have been developed in recent years to present audiovisual information in new ways, but developing an information presentation interface to convey tactile information is still a challenge. We propose a tactile device using wearable technology that is an all-around pressure presentation system using pneumatic actuators. Specifically, we develop a system in which a choker equipped with a pneumatic actuator is worn around the neck, that applies pressure in any direction to indicate to the user the direction in which to walk and also when to start and stop walking. In this paper, we describe the construction of the device, evaluation experiments, our assessment of the prototype, and future plans for the device.