Usability assessment of low-cost vibration motors for presenting vibrotactile feedback in sensory and motor rehabilitation

Sensory impairments resulting from stroke increase the difficulty of performing activities of daily living and motor rehabilitation. Despite this, present-day VR rehabilitation systems do not assess tactile sensory function, nor provide feedback to help retraining of tactile perception. We assessed the use of low-cost vibration motors to provide elaborate feedback by investigating various parameters of vibration perception such as the absolute and difference thresholds at the fingertips. Tests conducted with healthy subjects resulted in consistent absolute and difference thresholds, and nearly constant Weber fractions. The data will be of use for calibrating and designing future tactile sensory training systems.