Devices capable of stroking the user’s forearm are being explored for digitally mediated touch but are mainly contact-based. We propose ElectroCaresses, the use of electrostatic piloerection to convey contactless gentle strokes by generating dynamic patterns of hair erection along the forearm. We investigated if a discrete set of electrodes can convey apparent motion (n=12), and evaluated effects of distance, duration and direction on continuity perception. We show that participants can discriminate stimuli direction with a high accuracy (93%) and perceive a continuous stroking stimulus using discrete signals. We finally propose guidelines for designing haptic illusions of motion using electrostatics-based haptics.
Cite this Work
BibTex:
@article{bouzbib2025electrocaresses,
title={ElectroCaresses: Contactless Apparent Motion on the Forearm using Electrostatic Piloerection},
author={Bouzbib, Elodie and Donkov, Stefan and Elizondo, Sonia and Irisarri, Josu and Aldea, Mikel and Ezcurdia, Inigo and Iriarte, Naroa and Marzo, Asier},
journal={IEEE Transactions on Haptics},
year={2025},
publisher={IEEE}
}APA:
Bouzbib, E., Donkov, S., Elizondo, S., Irisarri, J., Aldea, M., Ezcurdia, I., … & Marzo, A. (2025). ElectroCaresses: Contactless Apparent Motion on the Forearm using Electrostatic Piloerection. IEEE Transactions on Haptics.