Force and Touch Feedback for Virtual Reality

Could weight, temperature, and texture combine to bring simulated objects to life? Describing cutting-edge technology that will influence the way we interact with computers for years to come, this pioneering book answers yes: not only is it possible, but devices capable of providing force and tactile sensory feedback already exist. Force and Touch Feedback for Virtual Reality is the first comprehensive source of information on the design, modelling, and applications of force and tactile interfaces for VR. It is a must have for scientists, engineers, psychologists, and developers involved in VR, and for anyone who would like to gain a deeper understanding of this exciting and fast-growing field. Complete with hundreds of tables, figures, and color illustrations, Force and Touch Feedback for Virtual Reality offers * Basic information on human tactile sensing and control and feedback actuator technology * A worldwide survey of force and tactile interface devices, from the simple joystick to full-body instrumented suits based on human factor tests * Step-by-step instructions for realistic physical modelling of virtual object characteristics such as weight, surface smoothness, compliance, and temperature * A unified treatment of the benefits of the new haptic interface technology for simulation and training based on human factor tests * A detailed analysis of optimum control requirements for force and tactile feedback devices * A review of emerging applications in areas ranging from surgical training and entertainment to telerobotics and the military

Analyzing User Behavior within a Haptic System

Haptic technology has the potential to enhance education, especially for those with severe visual impairments (those that are blind or who have low vision), by presenting abstract concepts through the sense of touch. Despite the advances in haptic research, little research has been conducted in the area of haptic user behavior toward the establishment of haptic interface development and design conventions. To advance haptic research closer to this goal, this study examines haptic user behavior data collected from 9 participants utilizing a haptic learning system, the Heat Temperature Module. ANOVA results showed that differences in the amount of haptic feedback result in significant differences in user behavior, indicating that higher levels of haptic friction feedback result in higher user interaction proportions of data. Results also suggested that minimal thresholds of friction haptic feedback can be established for a desired level of minimum user interaction data proportions, however; more research is needed to establish such thresholds

A Virtual Reality Simulator for Basketball Free-Throw Skills Development

Part 5: Human InteractionInternational audienceBasketball has grown into an international sport played and watched by millions of people. This paper describes the implementation of a virtual basketball accelerator. The main purpose of our study was to devise an application that could literary help players in practicing a free throw game indoors. In the development of this project we used Matlab, XVR and 3ds Max. The Matlab trajectory is simulated considering the development of a realistic behavior. The data acquisition from the trackers is adapted both for magnetic and optical markers, therefore extending its usability. The coordinates are then sent via UDP to the XVR environment, which draws the moving parts accordingly. The overall performance is improved by paying a great deal of attention to details