The ways we interact with new technology is continuously changing and “haptic feedback” is getting more and more important. To that reason we carried out a case study about the haptic perception in virtual space, in particular with the tactile and the kinesthetic feedback.
Our question was: how can haptic perception be enhanced by pressure, for example on touchscreens?
We started the project by modifying a glove, adding pressure sensors to it in order conduct user tests. This method helped us to get information about the forces in each individual finger and the ways they are used to interact.
The next step was to find out how surface materials and properties can be represented in the virtual space and how to convey the results to the user. To that purpose we tested different materials upon their plasticity and the required forces to deform. The results were then transferred to a prototype, built with an Arduino Board, the Arduino software and Processing to readout the values.
Our applied method was based on the findings that letter cases with different materials and pressure sensors are intended to simulate a haptic display to the user. The user would experience the force and displacement that was executed on the physical objects through a visual interface.
In a second step we wanted to find out how human interaction could be improved or changed through haptic in the virtual space. The aim of this research was to create a prototype to perform some user testing and find out how the users experience surface properties and materials in the virtual space.
Semester 2 Invention Design with Ester Harter Mentoring by Prof. Jörg Beck and Prof. David Oswald