Abstract:
The sense of touch offers interesting possibilities as a robust and ubiquitous
communication channel. In this thesis, we developed and presented OM, a
tool that enables users to design subjective vibrotactile expressions associated
with contextualised information that is relevant to them. OM consists of a pair
of wrist-worn devices that reproduce complex vibrotactile symbols and a companion
editor smartphone app that allows users to create, customise, and store
personalised expressions. We studied OM in real-world contexts by allowing participants
to explore the functionalities of OM throughout their daily interactions
with complete autonomy. Based on the study results we highlight relevant scenarios,
design considerations and future directions towards a tool that can help
people unveil an alternative, ubiquitous, and private communication system that
is accessible to all.
