When ultrasound is focused, a non-contact force known as acoustic radiation pressure is generated at the focal point. During my Ph.D. studies, I worked on presenting non-contact tactile sensations using this radiation pressure. In particular, I investigated how to generate a strong sense of pressure using ultrasound. Because the radiation pressure produced by ultrasound is not physically very strong, it is necessary to perceptually enhance the tactile sensation by using mechanisms of human perception. I demonstrated that a pressure sensation ten times stronger than the applied radiation pressure can be evoked by adding spatial motion at several hertz to the ultrasound presentation pattern. Based on this enhanced pressure sensation, I also explored the generation of a variety of texture sensations.

The Kashiwa campus is rich in nature and was a very comfortable place for me, and I often went for walks around the campus. I believe it provides an excellent environment for concentrating on research. In addition, the laboratories in this department are diverse, which allowed me to broaden my perspective.

I am currently continuing this research at NTT Communication Science Laboratories. My work focuses on enriching ultrasound-based tactile sensations and clarifying the human perceptual mechanisms that produce strong pressure sensations.