Heather Culbertson and her team at the University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering have recently unveiled work on a new haptic armband designed to work with VR technology. Allowing for a sense of touch, the haptic armband doesn't simply vibrate like typical game controllers. Rather, it provides the sensation of fingers moving down a user's arm. The sensation has been described as pleasant and is being compared to a soft stroking sensation.
According to Culbertson, this sort of hardware is the main focus of her lab. Culbertson is working hard to leverage haptic technology in a way that allows users to mimic virtual sensations in the real world. The hope is that this technology will be used to improve social VR and can even help decrease depression or reduce stress.
Haptic VR Wearables
A New Haptic Armband Simulates Touch in VR Spaces
Trend Themes
1. Haptic VR Wearables - The development of advanced haptic hardware will enhance virtual reality (VR) experiences by simulating real-world sensations.
2. Social VR - The integration of haptic technology with social VR applications will revolutionize how people interact with each other in virtual environments.
3. Haptic Therapy - The use of haptic technology to reduce stress and depression will create new opportunities in the healthcare industry.
Industry Implications
1. Gaming - The gaming industry will be able to provide more immersive gaming experiences with the integration of advanced haptic technology.
2. Healthcare - The healthcare industry can explore new avenues of therapy for mental health disorders incorporating haptic technology.
3. Education - Haptic VR wearables could be used in education to create a more engaging and immersive learning experience.