Title: Audio-tactile stimulation: a tool to improve health and well-being?

Authors: Esko O. Dijk; Anton Nijholt; Jan B.F. Van Erp; Gerard Van Wolferen; Ewoud Kuyper

Addresses: Philips Research, Department of Lighting Control Systems, High Tech Campus 34, Eindhoven NL-5656 AE, The Netherlands ' Human Media Interaction Group, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, Enschede NL-7500 AE, The Netherlands ' TNO Human Factors, P.O. Box 23, Soesterberg NL-3769 ZG, The Netherlands ' Faculty of Art, Media and Technology, Utrecht School of the Arts (HKU), P.O. Box 2471, Hilversum NL-1200 CL, The Netherlands ' Sense Company B.V., Dr. Paul Janssenweg 144, Tilburg NL-5026 RH, The Netherlands

Abstract: Stimulation of the tactile sense or the hearing sense can be used to improve a person's health and well-being. For example, to make someone relax, feel better or sleep better. In this position paper, we present the concept of auditory-tactile stimulation for health and well-being. Through carefully selected audio-tactile stimuli, a person's bodily, mental and emotional state may be influenced. The state of the art is described and its limitations are indicated. Then, a vision is presented on how auditory-tactile stimulation could be beneficial in several application domains. Three specific research areas are identified: identifying mechanisms of perception of auditory-tactile stimuli, methods for automatic conversions between audio and tactile domains and automated analysis of human bio-signals and behaviour for adapting the stimulation optimally to the user.

Keywords: haptics; audio-tactile stimuli; tactile stimulation; haptic perception; audio stimulation; auditory stimulation; acoustic stimuli; multi-modal stimuli; cross modal perception; cross modal conversions; health improvement; healthcare applications; well-being; therapies; relaxation methods; biosignals.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAACS.2013.056818

International Journal of Autonomous and Adaptive Communications Systems, 2013 Vol.6 No.4, pp.305 - 323

Published online: 13 Sep 2014 *

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