Improving Haptic Acuity: Using Robotic Haptic Device and Virtual Reality

Yuzhang Li, Yen-Wu Lo, Bin Zheng, Xinming Li

Keywords: Haptic, Learning Curve, Virtual Reality, Workload

Abstract: Touch is essential for healthcare professionals. However, effective training models for enhancing haptic acuity remain limited. We developed a virtual reality training model to improve haptic sensitivity and evaluated its effectiveness. 26 participants were recruited and completed a training program over ten consecutive days. On each Training session, participants interacted with virtual objects that varied in properties such as friction, viscosity, stiffness, and pop-through force. During Test sessions, they were tasked with exploring the shape, position, and physical characteristics of hidden objects within a virtual black box. Performance scores were calculated based on their touch acuity. After each Test session, participants completed the NASA-TLX to assess perceived workload. Results showed a general upward trend in the Post-training performance scores, peaking between Days 5 and 8, followed by a plateau from Days 8 to 10. NASA-TLX scores exhibited a general downward trend, indicating reduced workload over time. These findings suggest that systematic training using virtual reality models can effectively improve haptic acuity performance while reducing workload.

Submission Number: 47