Volumetric Haptic Display

A Volumetric Haptic Display (VHD) is similar to a (visual) Volumetric Display, but informs touch instead of vision. A VHD projects a touch-based representation of a surface onto a 3D volumetric space. Users can feel the projected surface(s), usually with their hands. The display is otherwise not detectable, and offers no visual feedback. There are no known instances of a fully operational VHD at this time.

Technological Implementation

At this time, there is no set method to implement VHDs, but it is likely that a wired glove will be used. Methods of projecting the tactile information into space are still being developed.

Feedback

The following feedback can be provided to the user:

*Surface contact
*Surface texture
*Vibration
*Motion-based/topological changes of surface

Previous Work

*Refreshable Braille Display (two dimensional).
*Wired glove (partial 3D representation).

References

* [http://cmt.gla.ac.uk/website/projects/belexes.html Belexes research project] in the [http://cmt.gla.ac.uk Centre for Music Technology] at the [http://www.gla.ac.uk/ University of Glasgow] .
* [http://www.newscientisttech.com/article/dn12169-tangible-display-makes-3d-images-touchable.html] "Researchers in Japan have developed a display that makes 3D objects solid enough to grasp."