Navigation by vibration: Effects of vibrotactile feedback on a navigation task

• Developed a vibrotactile feedback system with four tactors.
• Designed a vibrotactile-feedback-based navigation task.
• Evaluated vibrotactile feedback parameters (frequency, duration and amplitude).
• Medium level frequency & duration produced better performance.
• Summarized design guidelines for future application development.

In the background of spatial orientation in a navigation task, this study investigated the effect of frequency, duration and amplitude of vibrotactile feedback when it provided primary information modality. Multiple levels of each parameter were designed for an experiment conducted with 18 participants. Their performance was evaluated via number of errors, task completion time, annoyance level, and user preference. Result showed that medium level of frequency and duration was more preferred and can produce better performance. However, optimal amplitude level varied by individuals and also interacted with frequency. The paper summarized a set of design guidelines, which could be used to the design of future user interface with vibrotactile feedback. The study should provide great empirical data and meaningful insight for the design of vibrotactile feedback for future applications.Relevance to industryThe paper evaluated the vibrotactile interfaces and summarized a set of design guidelines, which could help to speed up the commercialization and industrial application of vibrotactile user interface.