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

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.