Employing spatial sonification of target motion in tracking exercises

This paper presents the results of an experiment in which the effect of spatial sonification of a moving target on the user's performance during the execution of basic tracking exercises was investigated. Our starting hypothesis is that a properly designed multimodal continuous feedback could be used to represent temporal and spatial information that can in turn improve performance and motor learning of simple target following tasks. Sixteen subjects were asked to track the horizontal movement of a circular visual target by controlling an input device with their hand. Two different continuous task-related auditory feedback modalities were considered, both simulating the sound of a rolling ball, the only difference between them being the presence or absence of binaural spatialization of the target's position. Results demonstrate how spatial auditory feedback significantly decreases the average tracking error with respect to visual feedback alone, contrarily to monophonic feedback. It was thus found how spatial information provided through sound in addition to visual feedback helps subjects improving their performance

Effects of Kinesthetic and Cutaneous Stimulation During the Learning of a Viscous Force Field

Haptic stimulation can help humans learn perceptual motor skills, but the precise way in which it influences the learning process has not yet been clarified. This study investigates the role of the kinesthetic and cutaneous components of haptic feedback during the learning of a viscous curl field, taking also into account the influence of visual feedback. We present the results of an experiment in which 17 subjects were asked to make reaching movements while grasping a joystick and wearing a pair of cutaneous devices. Each device was able to provide cutaneous contact forces through a moving platform. The subjects received visual feedback about joystick’s position. During the experiment, the system delivered a perturbation through (1) full haptic stimulation, (2) kinesthetic stimulation alone, (3) cutaneous stimulation alone, (4) altered visual feedback, or (5) altered visual feedback plus cutaneous stimulation. Conditions 1, 2, and 3 were also tested with the cancellation of the visual feedback of position error. Results indicate that kinesthetic stimuli played a primary role during motor adaptation to the viscous field, which is a fundamental premise to motor learning and rehabilitation. On the other hand, cutaneous stimulation alone appeared not to bring significant direct or adaptation effects, although it helped in reducing direct effects when used in addition to kinesthetic stimulation. The experimental conditions with visual cancellation of position error showed slower adaptation rates, indicating that visual feedback actively contributes to the formation of internal models. However, modest learning effects were detected when the visual information was used to render the viscous field

Agility in assembly systems: A comparison model

This paper aims at analyzing different possible assembly systems, including innovative potential configurations such as the fully flexible assembly systems (FAS), by defining a novel analytical model that focuses on the concept of agility and its impact on the whole system performance, also evaluating the economic convenience in terms of the unit direct production cost. Design/methodology/approach - The authors propose a comparison model derived by Newton's second law, introducing a quantitative definition of agility (acceleration), resistance of an assembly system to any change of its operative state (inertia) and unit direct production cost (force). Different types of assembly systems (manual, flexible and fully FAS) are analyzed and compared using the proposed model, investigating agility, system inertia and their impact on the unit direct production cost. Findings - The proposed agility definition and the proposed comparison model have been applied considering different sets of parameters as independent variables, such as the number of components to assemble (product model complexity) and the target throughput of the system. The main findings are a series of convenience areas which either, for a given target unit direct production cost (force), defines the most agile system to adopt or, for a given target agility (acceleration), defines the most economical system to adopt, as function of the independent variables. Originality/value - The novelty of this work is, first, the analytical definition of agility applied to assembly systems and contextualized by means of the definition of the new comparison model. The comparison between different assembly systems on the basis of agility, and by using different sets of independent variables, is a further element of interest. Finally, the resulting convenience areas represent a desirable tool that could be used to optimally choose the most suitable assembly system according to one or more system parameters

Employing spatial sonification of target motion in tracking exercises

This paper presents the results of an experiment in which the effect of spatial sonification of a moving target on the user's performance during the execution of basic tracking exercises was investigated. Our starting hypothesis is that a properly designed multimodal continuous feedback could be used to represent temporal and spatial information that can in turn improve performance and motor learning of simple target following tasks. Sixteen subjects were asked to track the horizontal movement of a circular visual target by controlling an input device with their hand. Two different continuous task-related auditory feedback modalities were considered, both simulating the sound of a rolling ball, the only difference between them being the presence or absence of binaural spatialization of the target's position. Results demonstrate how spatial auditory feedback significantly decreases the average tracking error with respect to visual feedback alone, contrarily to monophonic feedback. It was thus found how spatial information provided through sound in addition to visual feedback helps subjects improving their performance. © 2012 Simone Spagnol et al

Substituting auditory for visual feedback to adapt to altered dynamic and kinematic environments during reaching

The arm movement control system often relies on visual feedback to drive motor adaptation and to help specify desired trajectories. Here we studied whether kinematic errors that were indicated with auditory feedback could be used to control reaching in a way comparable to when vision was available. We randomized twenty healthy adult subjects to receive either visual or auditory feedback of their movement trajectory error with respect to a line as they performed timed reaching movements while holding a robotic joystick. We delivered auditory feedback using spatialized pink noise, the loudness and location of which reflected kinematic error. After a baseline period, we unexpectedly perturbed the reaching trajectories using a perpendicular viscous force field applied by the joystick. Subjects adapted to the force field as well with auditory feedback as they did with visual feedback, and exhibited comparable after effects when the force field was removed. When we changed the reference trajectory to be a trapezoid instead of a line, subjects shifted their trajectories by about the same amount with either auditory or visual feedback of error. These results indicate that arm motor networks can readily incorporate auditory feedback to alter internal models and desired trajectories, a finding with implications for the organization of the arm motor control adaptation system as well as sensory substitution and motor training technologies

Substituting auditory for visual feedback to adapt to altered dynamic and kinematic environments during reaching

none5The arm movement control system often relies on visual feedback to drive motor adaptation and to help specify desired trajectories. Here we studied whether kinematic errors that were indicated with auditory feedback could be used to control reaching in a way comparable to when vision was available. We randomized twenty healthy adult subjects to receive either visual or auditory feedback of their movement trajectory error with respect to a line as they performed timed reaching movements while holding a robotic joystick. We delivered auditory feedback using spatialized pink noise, the loudness and location of which reflected kinematic error. After a baseline period, we unexpectedly perturbed the reaching trajectories using a perpendicular viscous force field applied by the joystick. Subjects adapted to the force field as well with auditory feedback as they did with visual feedback, and exhibited comparable after effects when the force field was removed. When we changed the reference trajectory to be a trapezoid instead of a line, subjects shifted their trajectories by about the same amount with either auditory or visual feedback of error. These results indicate that arm motor networks can readily incorporate auditory feedback to alter internal models and desired trajectories, a finding with implications for the organization of the arm motor control adaptation system as well as sensory substitution and motor training technologies.mixedF. Oscari; R. Secoli; F. Avanzini; G. Rosati; D. J. ReinkensmeyerOscari, Fabio; R., Secoli; Avanzini, Federico; Rosati, Giulio; D. J., Reinkensmeye

Employing spatial sonification of target motion in tracking exercises

This paper presents the results of an experiment in which the effect of spatial sonification of a moving target on the user's performance during the execution of basic tracking exercises was investigated. Our starting hypothesis is that a properly designed multimodal continuous feedback could be used to represent temporal and spatial information that can in turn improve performance and motor learning of simple target following tasks. Sixteen subjects were asked to track the horizontal movement of a circular visual target by controlling an input device with their hand. Two different continuous task-related auditory feedback modalities were considered, both simulating the sound of a rolling ball, the only difference between them being the presence or absence of binaural spatialization of the target's position. Results demonstrate how spatial auditory feedback significantly decreases the average tracking error with respect to visual feedback alone, contrarily to monophonic feedback. It was thus found how spatial information provided through sound in addition to visual feedback helps subjects improving their performance. © 2012 Simone Spagnol et al

Improving robotics for neurorehabilitation: enhancing engagement, performance, and learning with auditory feedback

This paper reports on an ongoing research collaboration between the University of Padua and the University of California Irvine, on the use of continuous auditory-feedback in robot-assisted neurorehabilitation of post-stroke patients. This feedback modality is mostly underexploited in current robotic rehabilitation systems, that usually implement very basic auditory feedback interfaces. The results of this research show that generating a proper sound cue during robot assisted movement training can help patients in improving engagement, performance and learning in the exercise