Leg-jack: generation of the sensation of walking by electrical and kinesthetic stimuli to the lower limbs

Abstract

We developed a neurosensory and kinesthetic stimulation system that generated a walking sensation for a seated user. An electrical stimulus was applied to Achilles' and tibialis anterior tendons with a kinesthetic stimulus generated by a lower limb device driven synchronously with an egocentric visual scene during virtual walking. The system works as a part of experience replication scheme that aims to receive other's physical activity. As a common bodily activity of humans, walking motion was focused. The evaluation experiment has shown that walking sensation was increased by each stimulation at a 1% significance level. In this demonstration, the user on a chair can feel as if he/she is walking in a haunted house. The user can move the upper body freely to look around with a virtual flashlight, however the lower body is possessed by the other. The user walks into the house despite the intention. The work gives the user a realistic experience which was not sufficiently generated with only a movie and sounds.