Research

In this study, we propose a finger-tapping interface called FINGERTAP, which can estimate the contact states and forces on human fingertips in real time using only the fingertip positions measured by high-speed vision cameras. In particular, we focus on the high-frequency component that develops at the moment when a fingertip contacts something. We introduce a real-time estimation algorithm for the fingertip contact state and force using frequency filtering to detect the high-frequency movement component of the fingertip positions.

We also introduce a clickable pointing interface and a virtual musical instrument as demonstration application examples using the FINGERTAP system, and we show the effectiveness of nonmountable type finger-tapping interfaces, which can estimate the fingertip positions and their contact forces simultaneously.