Paired-EMS: Enhancing Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS)-based Force Feedback Experience by Stimulating Both Muscles in Antagonistic Pairs
Date Issued
2024-05-11
Author(s)
Chia-Yu Cheng
Yu Chen
Sitaresmi Wahyu Handani
Avijit Balabantaray
Abstract
Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) has emerged as a key wearable haptic feedback technology capable of simulating a wide range of force feedback, such as the impact force of boxing punches, the weight of virtual objects, and the reaction force from pushing on a wall. To simulate these external forces, EMS stimulates the muscles that oppose (i.e. antagonistic to) the actual muscles that users activate, causing involuntary muscle contraction and haptic sensations that differ from real-world experiences. In this work, we propose Paired-EMS which simultaneously stimulates both the muscles that users activate and that prior EMS stimulates (i.e. antagonistic muscle pairs) to enhance the external force feedback experience. We first conducted a small formative study (n=8) to help design the stimulation intensity of muscle pairs, then conducted a user experience study to evaluate Paired-EMS vs. prior EMS approaches for both isometric and isotonic user actions. Study results (n=32) showed that Paired-EMS significantly improved realism, harmony, and entertainment (p.36), and was overall preferred by 78% of participants (p<.01).
Event(s)
CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Sytems, CHI 2024
Publisher
ACM
Type
conference paper