Our research is focusing on providing support for near-field haptics in virtual environments. To this end, we have developed a hardware infrastructure, called the TactaBoard, for controlling different types of devices (called tactors) in a low-cost, scalable fashion.
Each TactaBoard allows software control of 16 outputs with 1-byte resolution (0-255). The level of each output is individually controlled using a separate Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM) signal.
You can view pictures and movies of sample devices. Some sample applications we have tested include embedding pager motors (small DC motors with an eccentric mass on the shaft) into an office chair, mounting a tactor on a stylus, and using a glove form-factor.
There are also some pictures of the evolution of the TactaBoard.
There is a developer reference page for those interested in incorporating vibrotactile cues using the TactaBoard.
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Copyright © 2005, Robert W. Lindeman (gogo [at] wpi.edu). All rights reserved.
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