Tactile simulation of initial contact with virtual objects

The disclosed computer-implemented method may include (1) presenting, using a vibrotactile stimulator and a visual display, an artificial environment to a user, (2) determining whether a virtual contact is being initiated between a virtual object in the artificial environment and a surface location of the user served by the vibrotactile stimulator, and (3) actuating, in response to determining that a virtual contact is being initiated between the virtual object and the surface location, the vibrotactile stimulator to generate a vibrotactile signal to simulate initiation of the virtual contact at the surface location, where (a) the vibrotactile signal includes a magnitude-varying signal, and (b) at least one parameter of the magnitude-varying signal is based on a simulated rigidity of the virtual object as presented by the visual display. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.