Haptics technologies

Abstract

Multimedia and information technology are reaching limits in terms of what can be done in multimedia applications with only sight and sound. The next critical step is bring the sense of over network connections, which is commonly known as Tele-haptics. Haptics, a term which was derived from the Greek verb haptesthai meaning to touch, introduces the sense of touch and force into the human-computer interaction. Currently, research on haptics is broadly categorized into human haptics, machine haptics, and computer haptics. Human haptics is mostly conducted by psychologists study the mechanism of the modality, while machine haptics refers the design of haptic devices reproduce the sense of touch. Computer haptics covers all the aspects in haptics applications. The potential of haptics as a new media is quite significant for many applications such as tele-presence, tele-learning, tele-medicine, tele-operation in hazardous environments, industrial design and testing, gaming, and any related interactive virtual reality application. The advent of recent devices such as multitouch screens, next generation movement based gaming systems such as the Nintendo Wii®, have made touch based interfaces as an intriguing novelty. Our tutorial is timely as it would enable the IT research community gain an understanding of haptic devices and systems and how effectively employ them in their systems and interfaces.