Education and Training Environments for Skill Mastery - Multimedia and Signal Processing - page 451

Education and Training Environments for Skill Mastery
Approach to a Simulation System Using Haptic Device
for Acupuncture

Ren Kanehira 1 , Weiping Yang 2 , and Hideo Fujimoto 3

1 FUJITA Health University, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho,
Toyoake, Aichi, 470-1192, Japan
2 Aichi Shukutoku University, Nagoya, Japan
3 Nagoya Institute of Technology, Nagoya, Japan
[e-mail], [e-mail],
[e-mail]

Abstract. Computer-supported learning and training systems with highly
advanced information and communication technology (ICT) have recently been
paid more and more attention. In such a system, the skill training function by
which a new kind of education and training system may be developed was paid
particular attention. In this study, we proposed an education and training system
for oriental acupuncture, emphasizing on how to train the use of tiny force and
small movements. Research subjects were set to solve such problems as the
measurement and presentation of small operation forces, and their training
methods and the construction of training environment, towards the construction
of an idea training system combining satisfactorily both knowledge learning
and skill training. The acupuncture as one typical example of the traditional
oriental medicine treatments has been more and more accepted by the world for
its miraculous healing effect in recent years. It is mostly important in
acupuncture to become highly skilled by training with repeated practice.
However, such repeated practice can hardly be done on a real human body,
which may always be accompanied with pain and misery. In this study, a
computer training system for acupuncture with force feedback function was
proposed. A human acu-points model with acu-point's name, position,
meridians, stinging techniques and healing functions was created within the
computer, and devices with force feedback functions for skill training were
used in the system. A trainee gets acupuncture experience not only by visual
information, but also from sensing the force information with a true-false
judgment of his movement being real-timely given during the exercise.

Keywords: Training Environments for Skills, Quantification of Technique,
Acupuncture, PHANTOM, Force-feedback.

1 Introduction

New possibilities of using computer in education and training arise due to the highly
developing ICT. The appearance of new devices such as highly advanced sensors and