Remote 'touch' and 'feel' with new virtual interaction technology

Many people were amazed and interested in a technology device to help experience the virtual interaction called HaptoClone - an invention of the Shinoda laboratory at Tokyo University.

New virtual interactive technology helps people "touch" each other from afar

At the recent SIGGRAPH computer graphics conference, held in Los Angeles , many people were amazed and interested in a virtual interactive technology device (AR) called HaptoClone - one shot illustrated by Shinoda laboratory of Tokyo University. This device gives the feeling of " physical touch" for the experienced.

A HaptoClone experienced person shared: "I can't believe what I've just experienced. The machine has two cubes placed side by side that look like a disassembled 3D printer. I'm directed lead in front of such a box and put my hand in. At that moment I felt like I was hallucinating, I swear I could feel that finger pressing against my hand me. "

This HaptoClone device gives a "touch of body" feel to those who experience it.

HaptoClone technology works on the principle of using focused sound waves to provide tactile feedback. They are a row of 1992 ultrasound transducers installed along the cube block with the use of recording and reconstructing mass forces from all directions. Thanks to the instant feedback, you may feel like a hand in the next box is touching you.

HaptoClone technology works on the principle of using focused sound waves to provide tactile feedback.

In order to make that sense more real, the inventors of the Tokyo University Shinoda lab used a trick: to put in a mirror to help create 3D images - making the experience think. that I really saw the object touching me (Hologram technology). In the Coachella Music and Arts Festival, California last. The hologram technology was applied when rapper Snoop Dogg directly talked and performed with the late singer Tupac Shakur. - reconstructed with a 1: 1 ratio through 3-dimensional images of hologram technology. Therefore, the wonderful combination of feeling "touch" and true image has brought the experience of exciting moments.

Snoop Dogg stood on stage performing with the late singer Tupac Shaku through Hologram technology

However, one problem of HaptoClone still exists is that the force fields of the device are not strong enough to create a sense of reality. Researchers switched to using HaptoClone to help users interact with objects, namely an experiment with a feeling of volleyball. Although it is not as realistic as touching the outer surface of a real ball, the feeling of controlling the ball is completely true.

The experiment with the ball: the image of the real ball (right) is reproduced into a virtual image (left), each impact on the virtual ball will cause the same effect on the real ball.

In the present time, HaptoClone technology cannot be applied immediately in reality because the cubes are still quite big and bulky, plus the details of physical contact are still not enough to give people use specific tactile information that is merely a feeling of being interacted with an object or a person. But the feeling that you can touch an optical illusion that the device brings is quite convincing.

Haptoclone takes a lot of time to complete before being applied, but the feeling of touching an optical illusion that the device brings at the present time is quite convincing.

It is not too difficult to imagine what this device can bring in the near future. The applicability of Haptoclone is unlimited. Imagine, if Haptoclone technology is applied to Facetime or Skype, there is nothing more interesting, then you can both talk and touch your loved ones despite the geographical distance - that will be a breakthrough in the use of technology in communication .

Think of a 3D version of Force Touch on future Apple devices, there will be countless applications and utilities that can take advantage of this technology.