Wearable Fabric Electrotactile System for VR with Surround-Inhibitory Electrodes Units

Tactile feedback is crucial for enhancing the virtual-reality (VR) interaction experience. However, current electrotactile devices suffer from issues such as current diffusion and electrode crosstalk, limiting spatial accuracy. To address this challenge, we designed a fabric-based ultrathin flexible microelectrode array with novel stimulation-inhibition electrode units that reduces current diffusion and improves focusing, improving tactile feedback accuracy and clarity. Additionally, we developed an electrical tactile interaction evaluation system to quantitatively assess the tactile recognition accuracy and reaction time of 30 participants. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed electrode structure and evaluation system substantially enhance tactile perception in VR environments. This system has been demonstrated through immersive scenarios such as touching running water, stroking a bird's forehead, and feeling a cactus, highlighting its potential for providing precise tactile feedback and enhancing personalized human-computer interaction in VR.