ComTouch: A Vibrotactile Communication Device

This paper proposes a new haptic interface called ComTouch to augment remote voice communication by integrating a touch-to-vibration mapping into a cellular phone. The goal of this work is to enrich interpersonal communication by complementing voice with a new tactile channel. ComTouch, a one-handed device, converts pressure into vibrational intensity between users in real-time. We present preliminary user studies performed on 24 people to observe possible uses of the tactile channel when used in conjunction with audio. By recording and examining both audio and tactile data, we found strong correlations between the two communication channels. Some participants developed encoding systems similar to that of Morse code. Three original usages were also observed: Emphasis, Mimicry, and Turn-taking. We demonstrate the potential of the tactile channel to enhance the existing voice communication channel.