Haptic Technology: An Evolution towards Naturality in Communication
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Abstract
Haptics, the newest technology to arrive in the world of computer interface devices, promises to bring profound changes to the way
humans interact with information and communicate ideas. Recent advances in computer interface technology now permit us to touch and
manipulate imaginary computer-generated objects in a way that evokes a compelling sense of tactile "realness." Being able to touch, feel, and
manipulate objects in an environment, in addition to seeing (and hearing) them, provides a sense of immersion in the environment that is
otherwise not possible. Haptics is the science of touch. The sensation of touch is the brain’s most effective learning mechanism --more effective
than seeing or hearing—which is why the new technology holds so much promise as a teaching tool. It has been described as "(doing) for the
sense of touch what computer graphics does for vision"
With this technology we can now sit down at a computer terminal and touch objects that exist only in the "mind" of the computer. By using
special input/output devices (joysticks, data gloves, or other devices), users can receive feedback from computer applications in the form of felt
sensations in the hand or other parts of the body.
In this paper we explicate basic concepts and history of haptics, haptic rendering and its working. We mention the different types of haptic
devices. Then, we move on to a few applications of Haptic Technology. Finally we conclude by mentioning a few future developments.
Keywords: Haptics, Tactile, Kinaesthetics, PHANTOM, CyberGrasp
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