On the choice of tactile code

Abstract

Tactile codes and devices are widely used in virtual reality, robotics, and telemanipulation by blind and sighted people. Based upon the Braille code, we provide a rigorous analysis of tactile spatial codes, and propose a code that is improved in the information theoretical sense. Based upon the criterion of a minimum average code word weight, we derive a code that provides improved reliability and longer lifetime of tactile devices. Such an approach can be also employed for robot hands, and tactile feedback in virtual reality and dextrous telemanipulation.