Haptics for Sensory Substitution

Using one sensory modality to compensate for a modality that is unavailable is called Sensory Substitution and it is useful and often necessary for conveying some types of information effectively to people with disabilities. Using haptics to substitute for other modalities provides unique benefits as the tactile modality is incredibly flexible and underutilized. This chapter explores general purpose, media-focused, and interactive applications of Haptic Sensory Substitution as well as the future of Haptic Sensory Substitution and its implications for assistive technology.