Abstract
This paper reports on an empirical study that investigated the effect of frequency on the acuity of spatial localization on the skin of the forearm, as well as differences in localizability at different locations on the forearm. Three actuators were positioned in a 3 × 1 array along the forearm, and two adjacent actuators were sequentially activated with a 100 ms interstimulus interval, followed by activation of one of the three actuators in random order. Participants were asked about the direction of the second stimulation relative to the first one, and whether it was perceived in the same location as the first, below, or above it. Three frequencies — 100Hz, 200Hz, and 250Hz — were used for the stimuli. Results show that the frequency of the stimulus has a negligible influence on accuracy when the amplitude is kept constant. However, significant differences in the localization accuracy were found at different parts of the forearm. This study provides valuable insights into the design of tactile displays for conveying information on the skin. It suggests that spatial resolution may be optimized by positioning the actuators appropriately, rather than by manipulating the frequency of the stimulus.
