31.1: Invited Paper: Programmable Electrostatic Surface for Tactile Perceptions

We describe a fully programmable Electrostatic Tactile (ET) feedback system that delivers a range of tactile textures to a mobile display. The ET system is a robust, thin, and optically transparent structure that can be overlaid unobtrusively on top of a display screen. The system exploits the phenomenon of electrovibration to create a controllable frictional force between a user’s fingertip and the surface. The system enables the realization of localized tactile information delivered to the user’s skin directly, without moving parts. A tactile image is formed in accordance with the visual information displayed (virtual textures, tactile silhouettes, etc.). The magnitude and pattern of the frictional force on the display can be programmed to correspond to the images shown on the display and actual coordinates of the touch interaction in real time. This has been achieved using a variety of different materials, including those that are compatible with flexible devices.