Haptics

Overview

"Haptics" refers to the use of the sense of touch within visualisation applications. At the present, this is most commonly achieved as a result of the user's real-time interaction with the visualised scene occuring via a force-feedback styuls.

This stylus is moved by the user, and its position in space is encoded by hardware so that the software application knows where in the virtual space the stylus tip is located. Furthermore, the hardware can apply resistance to the movement of the stylus such that the user interprets this resistance as interaction with bodies in the virtual space.

Ideally, the correlation between movement and location of the hardware stylus and the movement and location of the virtual stylus tip is as close as possible, such that the user need not apply any level of compensatory muscle control in order to align the two systems.

Areas of interest

Applicable areas are those where a tactile interaction with the data will benefit their interpretation. Obvious subjects include surgical training, virtual sculpting, virtual painting and dentistry. Less directly, users could interact with data sets, whether theoretical or based on models of physical systems, and feel the change of various parameters within the data set, giving an intuitive and "real" understanding of the behaviour of such parameters.

SAPAC facilities

SAPAC has two haptics facilities, both based on SensAble devices.

Haptics workbench: based on a SensAble Phantom Premium 1.5/6DOF device. It is incorporated into a bench, which holds the host PC, display monitor and mirror, haptics device and control monitor. The arrangement of the desk is intended such that the physical placement of the stylus corresponds to the user's impression of its location in the virtual space of the application.
NOTE: The Bench currently is located at Flinders University, at Medical Devices and Technologies. Bookings are still to be made via SAPAC, and please note that some consultation may be needed in order to arrange a mutually agreeable time.

Portable device: based on a SensAble Phantom Omni device. This is a small, light and portable desk-top unit, and can be connected to any suitable PC.

Charges for use

These facilities are available for use and hire (see Bookings page); see the Charges page for information on costs.