Vibrotactile frequency for encoding a speech parameter

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Abstract
Frequency of vibration is not widely used as a parameter for encoding speech-derived information on the skin [human]. Where it was used, the frequencies employed have not necessarily been compatible with the capabilities of the tactile channel, and no determination was made of the information transmitted by the frequency variable, as differentiated from other parameters used simultaneously, such as duration, amplitude, and location. Several investigators showed that difference limens for vibration frequency may be small enough to make stimulus frequency useful in encoding a speech-derived parameter such as the fundamental frequency of voiced speech. Measurements were made of the frequency discrimination ability of the volar forearm, using both sinusoidal and pulse waveforms. Stimulus configurations included the constant-frequency vibrations used by other laboratories and frequency-modulated (warbled) stimulus patterns. The frequency of a warbled stimulus was designed to have temporal variations analogous to those found in speech. It may be profitable to display the fundamental frequency of voiced speech on the skin as vibratory frequency, though it might be desirable to recode fundamental frequency into a frequency range more closely matched to the skin''s capability.

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