Evaluation of Virtual Light Touch Phenomenon by Vibrotactile Stimulation Control Based on Body Fluctuation
Evaluation of Virtual Light Touch Phenomenon by Vibrotactile Stimulation Control Based on Body Fluctuation
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基于身体波动的振动触觉刺激控制虚拟轻触现象评估
DOI：
10.11239/jsmbe.58.39
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发表时间：
2020
影响因子：
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通讯作者：
上條 冬矢，坂田 茉実，島 圭介，島谷 康司
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Nobuaki FUJIBAYASHI;Mitsuo OTSUKA;Shinsuke YOSHIOKA;Tadao ISAKA;上條 冬矢，坂田 茉実，島 圭介，島谷 康司
日本与人口老龄化相关的跌倒事故越来越频繁，这就需要有效的跌倒预防方法。老年人经常使用拐杖和行走架等支撑设备来降低跌倒的风险，但此类措施可能不适合某些环境。以前的研究表明，在1N左右的力下，通过与窗帘或类似物体的光接触(LTC)可以缓解不稳定，作者还提出了一种基于LTC的虚拟光接触(VLTC)方法。VLTC支持基于连接到振动触觉指尖刺激器的周围虚拟分区的站立稳定性。众所周知，姿势保持效果不是通过简单的连续指尖刺激达到的，而是需要基于指尖运动特征(如加速度)进行控制的振动触觉刺激。然而，使用LTC可以通过不断接触一张纸或类似的物体来实现效果，而不需要指尖移动。假设来自某一固定点的反作用力在LTC中随着身体摆动或心理颤动而波动，LTC效应可能是通过振动刺激再现这种波动来实现的。在这项研究中，作者提出了一种新的VLTC方法，该方法使用振动刺激控制来基于指尖加速度数据再现个人运动引起的接触反作用力的波动。对该方法的验证表明，体位波动的减少与LTC相似。这一发现表明，LTC实现的重心摆动的减少可能与固定点的反作用力的轻微变化有关，这改善了指尖的位置感。
An increasing frequency of fall accidents associated with demographic aging in Japan has given rise to a need for effective fall prevention methods. Elderly people often use support devices such as canes and walking frames to reduce the risk of falling, but such measures may be inappropriate for certain environments. Previous research has shown that unsteadiness can be mitigated via light touch contact (LTC) with curtains or similar object at a force of up to around 1N, and the authors also previously proposed a virtual light touch contact (VLTC) approach based on LTC. VLTC supports standing stability based on a surrounding virtual partition connected to a vibrotactile fingertip stimulator. It is known that the posture retention effect is not achieved via simple continuous fingertip stimulation; rather, vibrotactile stimulation is required for control based on fingertip motion characteristics such as acceleration. However, with LTC the effect can be achieved via constant contact with a piece of paper or similar object without the need for fingertip movement. Assuming that reaction force from a fixed point fluctuates with body sway or psychological tremors in LTC, the LTC effect may be achievable by reproducing such fluctuations via vibrational stimulation. In this study, the authors proposed a novel VLTC method involving the use of vibration stimulation control to reproduce fluctuations in contact reaction force caused by the individual’s movement based on fingertip acceleration data. Verification of the method indicated a reduction of postural fluctuations similar to that achieved with LTC. This finding suggests that reduction of center-of-gravity sway achieved with LTC may be associated with slight changes in reaction force from a fixed point, which improves the position sense of the fingertip.