Haptics: Technology Based on Touch

International Journal of Scientific Research Engineering & Technology (IJSRET)Volume 2 Issue 8 pp 468-471 November 2013 www.ijsret.org ISSN 2278 – 0882

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Haptics: Technology Based on Touch

Megha Goyal*, Dimple Saproo*, Asha Bagashra**, Kumar Rahul Dev*Asst. Professor, Assoc. Professor, M.tech Student, B.Tech Student

*(Department of ECE, Dronacharya College of Engg., GurgaonEmail: meghagoyal2010gmail.com, [email protected], [email protected])

** (Department of ECE, Shekhawati Engineering College, DundlodEmail: [email protected])

ABSTRACTHaptics is any form of non verbal communication. Itrefers to haptic technology, haptic communication andhaptic perception. It allows a person to feel input fromhaptic technology interfaces with the users through thesense of touch. It uses tactile feedback,executed by applying force or motion on a body of a

person, in the form of vibration. Haptic effects areenabled by the actuators that apply force on the skin, sothat the user can feel the force .Haptic communicationmeans by which a people and other human beings oranimals communicate via touching. In this paper, wewill discuss the basic concepts behind haptic technologyand other haptic devices and their applications in our dayto day life.

Keywords - Haptic technology, Kinesthetic, Sensors,Actuators, Tactile.

1. INTRODUCTION

Haptic is a term derived from the Greek word “haptikos”means pertaining to sense of touch. Haptics is a newesttechnology to arrive in the world of computer interfacedevices. It is a tactile feedback technology that takesadvantage of user’s sense of touch by applying force,vibrations or motion to the user. This mechanicalstimulation is used to assist in the creation of virtualobjects. Although the other sensory modalities such asvision and audition have been investigated in details butsense of touch has been neglected [1]. So, Haptictechnology has made it possible to investigate in detailshow the human sense of touch works by allowing the

creation of careful control haptic virtual objects. Theseobjects are used to systematically probe human hapticcapabilities which would otherwise be difficult toachieve. The term Haptics has been used for years byresearchers in human psychophysics who study howpeople use their hands to sense and manipulate objects[9, 10].

2. WORKING OF HAPTICS

Haptics consists of two parts namely human part andmachine part as shown in fig.1 below. Human partcontrols the position of the hand while machine partexerts force from the hand to stimulate contact withvirtual objects. In case of Haptics, computer acts as abrain, sensing devices performs the same function asmuscles do in our body and actuators/motors works as askin surfaces.


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Figure 1: Basic configuration of Haptics

The key elements which are used to interface withcomputer are sensors, actuators, real time algorithm, andapplication programming interface [4, 5]. Hapticinformation provided by the system will be thecombination of tactile information and kinestheticinformation.

Tactile information refers to the awareness ofstimulation to the outer surface of the body.

Kinesthetic information refers to the awarenessof limbs position and moment as well asmuscles tension.

Haptics can be subdivided into three areas:

2.1 Human HapticsHuman haptics is the study of human sensing andmanipulation through touch. Human haptic systemconsists of two subsystems: motor subsystem andsensory subsystem. Both the systems are strongly linkedwith each other. Human use to different forms of hapticexploration: active and passive. Active hapticexploration is used when user controls its action andpassive haptic exploration is used when another personguides the hand or fingers of the user [9].2.2 Computer HapticsComputer haptics is an algorithm and softwareassociated with generating and rendering the touch and

feel of virtual objects. Computer haptics is a rapidlyemerging area of research that is concern with thetechniques and the process associated with generatingand displaying the touch and feel of virtual objects to ahuman operator through a force reflecting device. Itincludes software architecture needed for hapticsinteraction and synchronization with visual and otherdisplay modalities.

2.3 Machine HapticsMachine haptics refers to design, construction and use ofmachine to replace or augment human touch. Hapticinterfaces are devices composed of mechanicalcomponents in physical contact with the human body forthe purpose of exchanging information with the humannervous system. In performing tasks with ahaptic interface, the human user conveys desired motoractions by physically manipulating the interface, whichin turns displays tactual sensory information to the userby appropriately stimulating his or her tactile andkinesthetic sensory systems [9]. Thus in general, hapticinterfaces can be viewed as having two basic functions:

To measure the positions and contactforces of the user’s hand

To display contact forces and positionsto the user.


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3. TOUCHING REAL AND VIRTUALOBJECT

When a human user touches a real object directly orthrough a tool, forces are imposed on the user’s skin.The associated sensory information, mediated by sensorsin the skin, joints tendons and muscles, is conveyed tothe brain by nervous system and leads to hapticsperception. The subsequent motor commands issued bythe brain activate the muscles and results in motion thatmodifies the touch sensory information.In order to create this effect a weak current is given areaof the device that is being used for interaction. If thematerial is conductive ,a capacitive set up will be createdwhen dry finger touches it .the capacitive set-up willgenerate an oscillating electric field around the skin andfinger tips ,which then go on to create a variablesensation of fiction depending on the frequency andapplied signal. The ability to control friction by varyingthe frequency and amplitude will allow to createdifferent ‘virtual surrounding’ as desired.

4. APPLICATIONS

There has been significant progress in hapticstechnology but the incorporation of haptics into virtualenvironments is still in its infancy. A wide range of thenew society’s human activities includingcommunication, education, art, entertainment, commerceand science would forever change if we learned how tocapture, manipulate and reproduce haptic sensory stimulithat are nearly indistinguishable from reality. For thefield to move forward, many commercial andtechnological barriers need to be overcome.4.1 GUIVideo game makers had been using passive haptics.

They took the advantages of vibrating joysticks,controllers and steering wheels to reinforce on-screenactivity but future video games will enable player to feeland manipulate virtual solids, fluids , tools and avatars.Nokia phone designer have perfected tactile touch screenthat makes on-screen buttons behaves as if they werereal buttons. When the user presses the button, he or shefeels moment in and out.

4.2 Tele RobotsIn telerobotic system, a human operator controls the

moment of a robot that is located some distance away.Tele-operated robots are limited to very simple task suchas aiming a camera and sending back visual images.Haptics now makes it possible to include touch cues in

addition to audio, video and visual cues in telepresencemodels [3].

4.3 Geo SciencesIn petroleum exploration, developing accurate models ofsubsurface environment is complex and challengingproblem. Novint has developed customized software tomake it possible to work in 3D with 3D data by addinghaptic feedback and providing real time 3D interactionto existing visualization techniques.

4.4 MedicineHaptics is manipulating micro and macro robots forminimal invasive surgery (laparoscopy) and remotesurgery using tele-operators. It is using in remotediagnosis for telemedicine. It provides aids for thedisabled such as haptic interfaces for the blind andrehabilitation robotics. In ophthalmology, "haptic" refersto a supporting spring, two of which hold an artificiallens within the lens capsule (after surgical removal ofcataracts) [4]. Haptics in medicals allows training offuture doctors in surgical procedure without the need ofactual human body.

4.5 MilitaryMilitary uses flight simulators to train pilots usinghaptics. Training missions may include how to fly inbattle, how to recover in an emergency, or how tocoordinate air support with ground operations. TheArmyuses several specific haptic devices to train soldiers todrive vehicles like tanks or the heavily-armored Strykervehicle [8].

4.6 CulturalHaptic technologies are available that let museums addthis missing aspect back into their computer-basedexhibits. They allow the visual displays to be extendedto make them more realistic, useful and engaging forvisitors and scholars. This has many potential benefitsfor museums, for example in allowing greater access torare and fragile objects, allowing access for people wholive far away and cannot easily get the museum,improving the opportunities for blind and visually-impaired people, and increasing the number of artefactson display. Haptic devices have a lot to offer museumsand are likely to have a big impact on the quality andusefulness of computer-based exhibits [7].

4.7 Education


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In the Education field the sense of touch and force-feedback can offer great improvements to the existingteaching methods, thus enhancing the quality ofeducation procedures. Haptics Educational Applicationsare an under development research field and some non-commercial applications have been developed for theabove haptic interfaces. In our research and study, theapplications and the device are oriented to each otherand both to educational purposes [6].

5. CHALLENGES

The main challenge in designing a haptics device is tomake the control interface feel exactly like the tool beingused originally by the operator. Haptic is still not verycommon technology and facing challenges in terms ofcost, complexity, portability and debugging issues.Precision of touch requires lot of advance design. Withonly a sense of touch, haptic interfaces cannot deliverwarnings. Haptics applications required complex andspecialized hardware and significant processing power.Complexity means many haptics project rely on fixedinstallations of equipment. Software compatibility is alsoanother issue facing by haptics technology. Touch playsa key role when examining objects in the real world butuntil recently it was not possible to use this realisticallyin virtual environments and computer-based displays.This has meant that some of these displays lackedrealism and usefulness [1].

6. CONCLUSION

Haptics technology is built into a device to create tactilefeedback, so that the user feels while touching the screenof a mobile device. For example, immersion softwarecombined with actuators, allows sensations like the feelof a button .It makes the product feel more real and canimprove the user experience, particularly for people notused to touch screens. As technology advances,computer power grows; haptic devices and effectsevolve and get more realistic. Future applications ofhaptic technology cover a wide spectrum of humaninteraction with technology. Current research focuses onthe mastery of tactile interaction with holograms anddistant objects, which if successful may result inapplications and advancements in gaming, movies,manufacturing, medical, and other industries. Themedical industry stands to gain from virtual andtelepresence surgeries, which provide new options formedical care. The clothing retail industry could gainfrom haptic technology by allowing users to "feel" the

texture of clothes for sale on the internet. The merging ofwearable consumer electronics with haptics technologythus allows people to interact ‘physical’ with virtualobject as if they were real-world object Futureadvancements in haptic technology may create newindustries that were previously not feasible or realistic.

7. REFERENCES

[1]. Gabriel Robles-De-La-Torre. "International Societyfor Haptics: Haptic technology, an animatedexplanation". Isfh.org. Retrieved 2010-02-26.

[2]. http://haptictechnologies.com/2011

[3].http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/everyday-tech/haptic-technology4.htm/30 June 2008

[4].http://misnt.indstate.edu/harper/Students/Haptics/mis476final.htm

[5].http://www.yuvaengineers.com/?p=691/1.06.2010

[6]. Pantelios, Labros Tsiknas, SotirisChristodoulou, Theodore Papatheodorou, “Hapticstechnology in Educational Applications, a Case Study”Michael HPC Lab, Computer Engineering & InformaticsDept., University of Patras, Greece, Year 2004

[7]. Stephen Brewster, “The Impact of Haptic‘Touching’ Technology on Cultural Applications”,Glasgow Interactive Systems Group, Department ofComputing Science University of Glasgow, Glasgow,G12 8QQ, UK, Year 2001

[8]. Lauri Immonen, “Haptics in military applications”,University of Tampere, Department of ComputerSciences/ Int. Technology, Seminar paper: Haptics inmilitary applications, December 2008, 14 pages

[9]. Mandayam A Srinivasan,”What is Haptics?Laboratory for Human and Machine Haptics: TheTouch”, Lab Massachusetts Institute of Technology, year2009

[10].Electronics for you “How Haptics can help yourProject” May-2013

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Haptics: Technology Based on Touch