HairTouch: Investigating the Design Space of Hair-Based Tactile Output

Abstract This paper proposes a innovative notification method leverages hair-based tactile cues, HairTouch. This study explored the intensity and diversity of this tactile sense, HairTouch provided subtle and effective reminders in hands-free and eyeless interaction scenarios, comparing to vibration and electrical stimulation. The study focused on five body locations: forehead, ear contours, cheeks, side of the neck, and back of the neck. The experiments were conducted subsequently to explore the design space of HairTouch. The aim of the experiment was to determine the suitable intensity of the hair touch stimuli at these locations and to evaluate the user’s acceptance of this new method of interaction. The results of the study showed that users perceived significant differences in the intensity and locations of touch, suggesting that the touch of the hair could offer a new method of reminding of information. The study also found that the angle of hair’s swings significantly affects the user’s perception, suggesting that this parameter can be manipulated to express different information. In summary, HairTouch showcases the potential of utilizing hair movement as a innovative and unique method of haptic interaction, offering a new dimension to interactive design. This approach can enhance the privacy of notifications and expand the types of available sensory in immersive technologies such as VR and AR. Future work will investigate the effect of hair movement speed on perception and explore more precise equipment to refine the instrument results.