Sound2Haptic: A Toolkit for Portable Multi-Channel Haptic Integration Across Multiple Form Factors and Devices

Abstract

Existing multi-actuator vibrotactile systems often require external hardware such as sound cards and haptic amplifiers, which limits portability and creates complexity for non-technical users. This presents a significant barrier for researchers and designers in fields like human factors and healthcare. We present Sound2Haptic, an vibrotactile toolkit that integrates a sound card and haptic amplifiers into a single device. The toolkit connects to laptops, phones, and XR headsets, enabling portable eight-channel multi-actuator interaction accessible to non-technical users. The toolkit features a novel mechanical design that reduces cross-actuator interference and enables form factor customization. We demonstrate the toolkit’s functional efficacy through psychophysical evaluation across three form factors, and its ease of use through three case studies: (1) a clinical application for tinnitus research (2) a human factors study on speech prosody conducted with human factors researcher, and (3) an exploration of spatial neglect rehabilitation using XR and haptics.