Within our Distributed and Interactive Systems research group, we focus on affective haptics, where we design and develop systems that can enhance human emotional states through the sense of touch. Such artificial haptic sensations can potentially augment and enhance our mind, body, and (virtual) social connections. In three works—voice communication, news consumption, and virtual embodiment—we explore the effects of enriching media experiences with thermal and vibrotactile affective haptics, and how such stimulation influences our affective perception.@en

Emotion plays a key role in the emerging wave of immersive, multi-sensory audience news engagement experiences. Since emotions can be triggered by somatosensory feedback, in this work we explore how augmenting news video watching with haptics can influence affective perceptions of news. Using a mixed-methods approach, we design and evaluate FeelTheNews, a prototype that combines vibrotactile and thermal stimulation (Matching, 70Hz/20° C, 200Hz/40° C) during news video watching. In a within-subjects study (N=20), we investigate the effects of haptic stimulation and video valence on perceived valence, emotion intensity, comfort, and overall haptic experiences. Findings showed: (a) news valence and emotion intensity ratings were not affected by haptics, (b) no stimulation was more comfortable than including stimulation, (c) attention and engagement with the news can override haptic sensations, and (d) users' perceived agency over their reactions is critical to avoid distrust. We contribute cautionary insights for haptic augmentation of the news watching experience.

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