Keynote Address: The Challenges of Large-Volume Haptics

Haptics is gaining ground as an important sensorial channel that enhances virtual reality interactions. Current commercial interfaces give the user the ab ility to touch and feel virtual objects. Extending haptics to large volumes is very desirable due to the new generation large -volume displays. However, the work envelope over which such haptic feedback can be produced in VR is limited by the dimensions of the interface, or by the range of 3 -D magnetic trackers. Producing large-volume haptics requires significant advances in sensing, actuators, wearable computing, modeling and communication software. Human factor studies should follow in order to quantify the effects of the new technology, as well as address its safety concerns.