Haptic
Haptic, from the Greek αφή (Haphe), means pertaining to the sense of touch. It is the earliest sense to develop in the fetus, and the development of infants' haptic senses, and how that relates to the development of the other senses such as vision, has been the target of much research.
Haptic perception
Gibson (1966) defines the haptic system as "The sensibility of the individual to the world adjacent to his body by use of his body". The haptic perceptual system is unusual in that it can include the sensory receptors from the whole body and is closely linked to the movement of the body so can have a direct effect on the world being perceived. The concept of haptic perception is closely allied to the concept of active touch that realises that more information is gathered when a motor plan (movement) is associated with the sensory system, and that of extended physiological proprioception a realisation that when using a tool such as a stick, the perception is transparently transferred to the end of the tool.
Haptic technology
Haptic technology refers to technology which interfaces the user via the sense of touch. It is an emerging technology that promises to have wide reaching applications.
History
One of the earliest forms of haptic devices is used in large modern aircraft that use servo systems to operate control systems. Such systems tend to be "one-way" in that forces applied aerodynamically to the control surfaces are not perceived at the controls, with the missing normal forces simulated with springs and weights. In earlier, lighter aircraft without servo systems, as the aircraft approached a stall the aerodynamic buffeting was felt in the pilot's controls, a useful warning to the pilot of a dangerous flight condition. This control shake is not felt when servo control systems are used. To replace this missing cue, the angle of attack is measured, and when it approaches the critical stall point a "stick shaker" (an unbalanced rotating mass) is engaged, simulating the effects of a simpler control system. This is an example of haptic feedback.
Teleoperators and simulators
Teleoperators are remote controlled robotic tools, and when contact forces are reproduced to the operator, it is called "haptic teleoperation".
The first electrically actuated teleoperators were built in the 1950's at the Argonne National Lab, to remotely handle radioactive substances. Since then, the use of "force feedback" has become more widespread in all kinds of teleoperators such as underwater exploration devices controlled from a remote location.
When such devices are simulated using a computer (as they are in operator training devices) it is useful to provide the force feedback that would be felt in actual operations. Since the objects being manipulated do not exist in a physical sense, the forces are generated using haptic (force generating) operator controls. Data representing touch sensations may be saved or played back using such haptic technologies.
Haptic simulators are currently used in medical and flight simulators for pilot training (2004).
Games
Some low-end haptic devices are already common. Some joysticks and game controllers provide haptic feedback. The simplest form is the rumble pack, which is simply an attachment which vibrates upon command from the software. Simulated automobile steering wheels are now available which provide the road "feel" for race car simulations. The ability to change the temperature of a controlling device could also be used. However, the technology may be cost prohibitive in terms of how much power it would need to operate properly.
Haptics in virtual reality
Haptics is gaining widespread acceptance as a key part of Virtual Reality systems, adding the sense of touch to previously visual-only solutions such as 'The Wedge' and more recently in laptop-based VR solutions such as the '3D-Mobile Immersive Workstation'. Most of these solutions use stylus-based haptic rendering, where the user interfaces to the virtual world via a tool or stylus, giving a form of interaction that is computationally realistic on today's hardware
Literature
The use of haptic devices in entertainment appeared in the 1932 futurist fiction book Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. The author described a future entertainment theater where the arm rests of the seats had positions for the hands to rest that gave haptic stimulation. Rather than "the movies" these theaters and shows were called "the feelies". The programs exhibited were of an erotic nature.
Remote sexual relations
One envisioned use of haptics is for "teledildonics". Recent developments such as the 'CyberGlove' indicate that this may be plausible and not just an interesting idea. Some sex toys are now available which can be computer controlled; normally this comes in the form of an online movie or website which sends commands to the toy at scripted moments. Members of the pornography industry are often among the early adopters of new technologies; for example, the multiple-viewpoint feature of DVDs was first widely used in pornography.
Arts
Touching is not limited to a feeling, but it allows interactivity in real-time with virtual objects. Thus haptics are commonly used in virtual arts, such as sound synthesis or graphic design/animation. The haptic device allows the artist to have direct contact with a virtual instrument which is able to produce real-time sound or images. We can quote the physical modeling synthesis which is an efficient modeling theory to implement cross-play interaction between sound, image, and physical objects. For instance, the simulation of a violin string produces real-time vibrations of this string under the pressure and expressivity of the bow (haptic device) held by the artist.
Other uses
"Haptic" [Note 1]is also the name of a popular underground house and techno night club in Glasgow, Scotland.
Notes
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