01380nas a2200157   4500008004100000245008000041210006900121490000600190520088800196653001901084100001701103700001501120700001701135700001301152856005701165       2014                        eng d00aWearable Wireless Tactile Display for Virtual Interactions with Soft Bodies0 aWearable Wireless Tactile Display for Virtual Interactions with 0 v23 a<p>We describe here a wearable, wireless, compact, and lightweight tactile display, able to mechanically stimulate the fingertip of users, so as to simulate contact with soft bodies in virtual environments. The device was based on dielectric elastomer actuators, as high-performance electromechanically active polymers. The actuator was arranged at the user’s fingertip, integrated within a plastic case, which also hosted a compact high-voltage circuitry. A custom-made wireless control unit was arranged on the forearm and connected to the display via low-voltage leads. We present the structure of the device and a characterization of it, in terms of electromechanical response and stress relaxation. Furthermore, we present results of a psychophysical test aimed at assessing the ability of the system to generate different levels of force that can be perceived by users.</p>
10aBioengineering1 aFrediani, G.1 aMazzei, D.1 aDe Rossi, D.1 aCarpi, F  uhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4150388/