Abstract
Nails are not just an instrument to protect fingers and scratch an object. They improve our tactile sensitivity. We have developed the novel tactile device considering nail function, which we call "tactile nail chip." This device is mounted on the nail and deforms the nail to change the capability of tactile perception. In this paper, the effect of the tactile nail chip is investigated through psychophysical experiments on pressure and texture. Results lead a supposition that the tactile nail chip affects the transmission of applied stimuli to fingertip by changing physical characteristics of fingertip and the tactile perception is changed.
