FIG. 15E is a graphical illustration of an example preferred region of operation 1568 for an array 1502 of cutaneous actuators, in accordance with an embodiment. Using the methods described below with respect to FIG. 15E, preferred parameters of the haptic sensations (e.g., frequency, amplitude, overlap time 1536, duration of sensations, etc.,) and preferred parameters of the array 1502 (e.g., spacing distance 1512A and 1512B, length of the device 1516, etc.,) may be determined that are more pleasant to human users. The preferred parameters may be used to associate social touch messages such as calming and consoling.
The parameters of the haptic sensations may be examined across a broad spectrum of frequency and amplitude. In some embodiments, frequencies of vibration in the 5-40 Hz range and amplitudes of up to 20 times that of the human sensitivity threshold evoke more pleasant touch. These parameters may be combined with the psychophysical models of moving illusions, social and consoling patterns to generate haptic sensations on the skin 1500 of a user, e.g., to reproduce effects of someone else touching the forearm 1500.