Evaluation of a device reproducing the pseudo-force sensation caused by a clothespin

Abstract

A pseudo-force sensation can be elicited by pinching a finger with a clothespin. When the clothespin is used to pinch the finger from the palm side, a pseudo-force is felt in the direction towards the palm side, and when it is used to pinch the finger from the back side of the hand, the pseudo-force is felt in the extension direction. Here, as a first step to utilizing this phenomenon in human-machine interfaces, we developed a device that reproduces the clothespin phenomenon and confirmed the occurrence rate of the pseudo-force sensation.