Necomimi Illusion: Body Ownership of Extended Ears Through Tactile Feedback Provided via Hair Linked to Avatar’s Cat Ears

Abstract

In virtual reality platforms, avatars featuring designs inspired by animal ears are widely used as self-expression and communication tools. In this study, we propose a tactile feedback method through hair movement linked with the avatar’s cat ears to generate a sense of ownership of virtual cat ears. We integrated shape-memory alloy soft actuators in the form of a tube into a head-mounted display and used them to move the hair, providing tactile stimulation. We conducted an experiment in which participants transformed into avatars with cat ears and scenarios where their heads were stroked. We investigated the impact of cat ear movement and tactile feedback linked to cat ears on the sense of ownership of the cat ears. The experiment’s results suggest that providing appropriate movements of cat ears and tactile feedback can induce a sense of ownership for cat ears that are not naturally present.