A Chang Kanji, Z., Ishii, H.

Abstract

Touch-based communication devices allow transmission of tactile sensations remotely. These devices can enhance existing communications by providing additional bandwidth for information. The addition of a new communication channel has appeal for deaf-blind users, as well as mainstream users. This paper describes design issues encountered while exploring the sense of touch for remote communication. Scenarios are proposed to define possible user interactions. Some challenges in designing touch-based tangible user interfaces, such as human factors and the semantics of a touch language, are presented.