Phantom Sensation

A phantom sensation is a perceptual illusion in which two vibrotactile actuators stimulating the skin simultaneously create the feeling of a single vibration at a point between them. By varying the amplitude and frequency of each actuator, the perceived location of the phantom sensation can be shifted along the skin between the two real stimulation points. This technique has been explored in haptic wristbands and other wearable devices to provide more precise directional information than the physical motor positions alone would allow, though research shows simpler single-motor approaches can outperform interpolated phantom sensation designs.