Fine Tactile Representation of Materials for Virtual Reality

Yoochang Yoon,Dongmin Moon,Seongah Chin

doi:10.1155/2020/7296204

Abstract

The most important aspect of virtual reality (VR) is the degree by which a user can feel and experience virtual space as though it is reality. Until recently, the experience of VR had to be satisfied with operations using a separate controller along with the visual and auditory elements. However, for a far more realistic VR environment, users should be able to experience the delicacy of tactile materials. This study proposes tactile technology, which is inexpensive and easy to use. To achieve this, we analyzed the unique patterns of materials through image filtering and designed a computing model to deliver realistic vibrations to the user. In addition, we developed and tested a haptic glove so that the texture of the material can be sensed in a VR environment.

Highlights

Owing to the development and wide distribution of computer hardware technology and virtual reality (VR) head-mounted display (HMD) devices, the VR content market is growing
One of the essential aspects in this context is the degree of realism in the touch of materials that the user can experience in a VR environment
With the development of various controllers, people can interact with the VR contents using the same gestures they use in everyday life

Summary

Introduction

Owing to the development and wide distribution of computer hardware technology and virtual reality (VR) head-mounted display (HMD) devices, the VR content market is growing. With the development of various controllers, people can interact with the VR contents using the same gestures they use in everyday life Equipment such as a VR glove can be used to experience the sense of touch using vibrations while interacting with the VR contents. Manus VR’s “Manus VR Glove” and Sensoryx’s “VRfree” provide hand-tracking technology to make users feel more immersed in the VR environment. As it does not provide any other function except for a simple haptic (on/off) switch, the effect of increasing immersion through touch is almost insignificant. In virtual figure model crafting (VFMC) [4] using a leap motion controller, we have measured the degree to which users felt the texture of clay through haptic when they shaped the virtual figure model using clay

Related Works

Design of Vibration for Haptic Glove

Experimental Results

Conclusion