Temperature variation could help new touchscreen technology simulate
virtual shapes
Date:
March 3, 2022
Source:
Texas A&M University
Summary:
High-fidelity touch has the potential to significantly expand the
scope of what we expect from computing devices, making new remote
sensory experiences possible. The research on these advancements
could help touchscreens simulate virtual shapes.
FULL STORY ========================================================================== High-fidelity touch has the potential to significantly expand the scope
of what we expect from computing devices, making new remote sensory
experiences possible. The research on these advancements, led by a pair
of researchers from the J. Mike Walker '66 Department of Mechanical
Engineering at Texas A&M University, could help touchscreens simulate
virtual shapes.
==========================================================================
Dr. Cynthia Hipwell is studying friction at the finger-device level,
while Dr.
Jonathan Felts is researching friction in the interaction between
single skin cells and the glass of the touchscreen interface. The
two are bringing together their respective areas of expertise to apply
friction principles at the microscopic level to finger-device interaction mechanics.
Hipwell highlighted the significance of the pursuit by comparing it to
the technologies currently available for conveying immersive and accurate information through high-fidelity audio and video.
"We can view digitally recorded or remotely transmitted audio and video
on a screen with great detail," said Hipwell, Oscar S. Wyatt, Jr. '45
Chair II professor. "We do not yet have that same capability with touch
on a touchscreen. Imagine you could feel the skin of a snake that lives
on another continent or the fabric of clothes you want to buy online."
Another application of this technology, which has received high levels of interest recently, is the augmentation of immersive virtual environments,
such as the proposed metaverse.
"The touch sensations that would be required to really immerse yourself
into a reality that is fully digital requires huge advancements in touch perception," said Felts, associate professor and Steve Brauer, Jr. '02
Faculty Fellow. "What we've done is essentially created an entirely new
way to modulate the perception of touch that hasn't existed before."
The team is working to show that it is possible to mimic the unique
mechanical and thermal sensations associated with different surface
textures and shapes.
Their recent publication in the journal Science Robotics demonstrates
the potential for translating these sensations on a touchscreen by
using temperature variation alone, rather than expressing them through ultrasonic vibrations or electroadhesion methods.
"We were actually surprised by the magnitude of the friction increase
we were able to achieve," Hipwell said. "Its magnitude is competitive
with current surface haptic devices, meaning that there is another
option for friction modulation in surface-haptic device rendering."
Another exciting development, Hipwell said, is that their research has
shown that it is possible to localize the friction to the outer layer of
the skin and, at least at swipe speeds, control friction without making
the device feel hot.
As the research continues, Felts said many of the questions remaining
involve how readily the approach can be incorporated into consumer
devices and commercialized.
"Can it be scaled down? Can it respond quickly enough? Can it mimic a
wide range of surfaces? Can it be affordable? We think these are fair criticisms, yet we look forward to using this phenomenon to improve our
basic understanding of haptic feedback and pursuing miniaturization and commercialization avenues," he said.
The team is continuing their work to address challenges facing the
approach by further exploring the complexities of the finger-device
interface and variations that occur due to environmental and skin-property differences. They also hope to look at design improvements for
miniaturization and integration into touchscreens.
========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Texas_A&M_University. Original
written by Steve Kuhlmann.
Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Changhyun Choi, Yuan Ma, Xinyi Li, Sitangshu Chatterjee, Sneha
Sequeira,
Rebecca F. Friesen, Jonathan R. Felts, M. Cynthia Hipwell. Surface
haptic rendering of virtual shapes through change in surface
temperature.
Science Robotics, 2022; 7 (63) DOI: 10.1126/scirobotics.abl4543 ==========================================================================
Link to news story:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/03/220303162037.htm
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