Analysis of Affective Response to Kinesthetic Stimulation

Abstract

Although the degree of freedom is increasing in technological perspective related to haptic, more research on the technology itself and the method of technology application is still needed to actualize the haptic interaction. The necessity of researches using systematic approach to explore application method considering haptic perception characteristics of user to implement affective experience and social message is becoming a rising topic. This study consists of two: (1) study on affective response related to kinesthetic feedback and (2) analysis of the perception characteristics according to mode of haptic. In this study, thirdty three force profiles represented by specific sine wave having width, magnitude, detent type, and detent width were used as stimuli. Six affective variables such as perspicuity, smoothness, heaviness, elasticity, liltingness, and satisfaction of each stimulus were evaluated on 7-point likert scale and 100-point magnitude estimation scale by 25 subjects. The experiments with jog dial were divided into active haptic where the participants were directly involved with controlling devices and into passive haptic where the participants remained uninvolved. A statistical model has been developed to describe the relationship between satisfaction and affective variable using regression analysis. Also, the relationship between affective variables and elements of force profile as design variables has been found by quantification I analysis. Based on factor analysis, affective variables could be classified into force-related variables and movement-related variables. Affective elements and satisfaction had high relationship level (R2=0.6). Also, each affective variables could be explained by design variables (R2=0.2~0.5). In order to analyze the perception characteristics according to haptic mode, averages of affective elements in each mode were compared and change pattern according to force profiles parameter was investigated through statistical analysis. As a result, perspicuity, heaviness and elasticity were perceived larger when the mode was set to active haptic, while smoothness was perceived larger in passive haptic, and perspicuity and heaviness have shown significant difference according to haptic mode (α<0.05). When it comes to change pattern of affective elements caused by force profiles parameter, it has linear relationship in active mode, but it doesnt in passive mode. Experiment result shows that the affective elements related with force are largely evaluated in active haptic than in passive haptic and assessment according to magnitude of stimuli was not consistent in passive haptic. This study investigates research issues that need to provide affective response utilizing haptic technology in human–robot interaction and virtual reality. By performing the fundamental research on the affective dimensions related to kinesthetic perception of the users and on the characteristics of feedback elements, the affective perception of complex kinesthetic perception was able to be analyzed, which in turn will allow us to build the foundation to provide the best haptic feedback to the users. Moreover, the perception of the feedback that the users receive passively has been analyzed, which also suggests further comparative analysis with the feedbacks provided from actively interacting with devices.