Demonstrating Pinching Visuo-haptic Display: A Dynamic Cloth Texturization Via Visually Enhanced Tactile Sensation

Author

Kitagishi, Takekazu and Ooi, Chun Wei and Rekimoto, Jun

Abstract

Fabric is integral to everyday life, from clothing to furniture, and its tactile qualities greatly influence comfort. Although digital reproduction of fabric textures promises to broaden access to personalized textiles, achieving realistic haptic feedback remains challenging. This study investigates how visual overlays affect tactile perception in a Pinching Tactile Display (PTD). We augmented the physical feedback of an electrically conductive cloth (ECC) with synchronized virtual textures in a virtual reality environment. User evaluations revealed that visual cues significantly modified perceived fabric sensations, including roughness and thickness. These findings highlight the potential of cross-modal integration for more immersive fabric representation, offering guidelines for future haptic design in applications such as online fashion retail and VR-based interaction.