Analysis of different vibration patterns to guide blind people

[EN] The literature indicates the best vibration positions and frequencies on the human body where tactile information is transmitted. However, there is a lack of knowledge about how to combine tactile stimuli for navigation. The aim of this study is to compare different vibration patterns outputted to blind people and to determine the most intuitive vibration patterns to indicate direction for navigation purposes through a tactile belt. The vibration patterns that stimulate the front side of the waist are preferred for indicating direction. Vibration patterns applied on the back side of the waist could be suitable for sending messages such as stop. This research is supported by Seventh European Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement 605821 (BLINDTRACK). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Durá-Gil, JV.; Bazuelo-Ruiz, B.; Moro Pérez, D.; Molla Domenech, F. (2017). Analysis of different vibration patterns to guide blind people. PeerJ. 5:1-10. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3082 Cholewiak, R. W. (1999). The Perception of Tactile Distance: Influences of Body Site, Space, and Time. Perception, 28(7), 851-875. doi:10.1068/p2873 Cholewiak, R. W., Brill, J. C., & Schwab, A. (2004). Vibrotactile localization on the abdomen: Effects of place and space. Perception & Psychophysics, 66(6), 970-987. doi:10.3758/bf03194989 Cholewiak, R. W., & Craig, J. C. (1984). Vibrotactile pattern recognition and discrimination at several body sites. Perception & Psychophysics, 35(6), 503-514. doi:10.3758/bf03205946 Faugloire, E., & Lejeune, L. (2014). Evaluation of heading performance with vibrotactile guidance: The benefits of information–movement coupling compared with spatial language. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, 20(4), 397-410. doi:10.1037/xap0000032 Ghiani, G., Leporini, B., & Paternò, F. (2009). Vibrotactile feedback to aid blind users of mobile guides. Journal of Visual Languages & Computing, 20(5), 305-317. doi:10.1016/j.jvlc.2009.07.004 Johnson, L. A., & Higgins, C. M. (2006). A Navigation Aid for the Blind Using Tactile-Visual Sensory Substitution. 2006 International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. doi:10.1109/iembs.2006.259473 Kärcher, S. M., Fenzlaff, S., Hartmann, D., Nagel, S. K., & König, P. (2012). Sensory Augmentation for the Blind. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 6. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2012.00037 Marston, J.