O'Malley, Marcia K2021-04-132022-05-012021-052021-03-11May 2021Pezent, Evan. "Referred Haptic Feedback for Virtual Hand Interactions Through a Bracelet Interface." (2021) Diss., Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/110265">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/110265</a>.https://hdl.handle.net/1911/110265A revolution in mobile interfaces is unfolding, as researchers and large corporations race toward all-day wearable technology for virtual and augmented reality. In a future where interacting with digital entities and objects is a facet of everyday life, an important aspect emerges: our ability to touch and feel objects that do not physically exist. Tactile feedback for virtual interaction is currently limited to either simple handheld controllers or obtrusive wearable devices for the hand, both unsuited to all-day use. This thesis presents an alternate approach: referred haptic feedback through bracelet interfaces. The design of a compact yet robust multimodal haptic bracelet is presented, along with novel control solutions for wrist squeeze force and high density vibrotactile arrays. The haptic rendering capabilities of the device are experimentally characterized and evaluated through psychophysical studies. Leveraging the multisensory combination of wrist squeeze and vibration with visual illusions, we explore the potential of providing substitutive feedback for interaction forces that would otherwise occur at the hands and fingertips. Findings from two human subject studies suggest that referred haptic feedback to the wrist provides more than just a metaphor for interaction forces, and instead invokes genuine perceptions of object stiffness.application/pdfengCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.virtualaugmentedrealityhapticswristThesis2021-04-13