DEVICE AND METHOD OF APPLYING SKIN SENSORY STIMULATION

摘要

An apparatus generates a cutaneous sense stimulus to call a subject attention to a change in posture based on posture change information (the amount of change in the barycenter, a changing direction of the same, and the like) from a device for detecting a change in posture of the subject. The apparatus has stimulus generating means (a plurality of vibrators) for generating a cutaneous sense stimulus, and stimulus control means for driving the stimulus generating means based on the posture change information. The control means comprises means for selecting a plurality of vibrators arranged substantially parallel with the changing direction based on the changing direction of the barycenter, and sequentially driving the selected vibrators, for example, in a direction substantially opposite to the direction in which the barycenter changes. The control means also drives the vibrators to generate the tactile sense stimulus of a magnitude corresponding to a changing amount of the barycenter. The vibrators are mounted on plantar soles, waist, chest, or the like. The apparatus can accurately notify the subject of a change in posture, and prompt the subject to take actions to maintain the posture.