Rendering haptics, or touch-sensing, in virtual reality and mixed reality (VR/MR) is crucial for rich, immersive experiences. Discover what Microsoft researchers believe to be the future of haptics in VR. Presented by Eyal Ofek (Principal Researcher) and Mike Sinclair (Senior Principal Researcher) from Microsoft Research, Redmond.
shapeShift is a compact, high-resolution (7 mm pitch), mobile tabletop shape display. We explore potential interaction techniques in both passive and active mobile scenarios. In the passive case, the user is able to freely move and spin the display as it renders elements. We introduce use cases for rendering lateral I/O elements, exploring volumetric datasets, and grasping and manipulating objects. On an active omnidirectional-robot platform, shapeShift can display moving objects and provide both vertical and lateral kinesthetic feedback. We use the active platform as an encounter-type haptic device combined with a head-mounted display to dynamically simulate the presence of virtual content. Future work will continue to explore the diverse dynamic interactions afforded by high-fidelity mobile shape-changing interfaces.
Experience high definition shape changing haptic feedback for the first time. Fluid Reality makes compact actuator components for consumer and enterprise electronic devices.
A new approach to touch virtual reality. Using compact Fluid Reality actuator arrays, we’ve created a high-resolution wireless haptic feedback glove with 20 haptic pixels/cm². Our actuators are low-profile, low-power, and entirely self-contained, with no tubing or tethers to external infrastructure. This five-finger, 160-actuator haptic glove is lightweight, weighing 207g including all drive electronics and battery.
VR glove companies are past the initial research phase and actually have working gloves ready for the market. VR Haptic Glove companies such as HaptX, Senseglove, WeArt Touchdiver, bHaptics and Etee have some incredible glove technology that I cover in this video. They feature haptics, force feedback, temperature, pressure and texture. Some are compatible with both standalone and PCVR while others are only for PCVR.
TouchDIVER is a wearable haptic glove that adds tactile sensations to any VR/AR experience and digital content. The product can track the user’s hand movements and apply forces, textures, and thermal cues on his skin.
This VR glove enables natural and realistic user interaction with virtual objects and surfaces.
The device is provided with an SDK that can be used to integrate it into Unity, Unreal Engine, and other software development platforms.
Typical applications of the device include industrial and medical training, marketing experiences, and entertainment.
This is a project to try to make VR Haptic Glove technology more available for the public. Currently, most VR Haptic Glove products out there are extremely expensive and are targeted for commercial use. In starting this project, I wanted to create a budget, but still well-functioning VR haptic and finger tracking glove that’s cheap and easy for people to get their hands on (or in, lol), and that works **Inside actual VR games**.
Originally, this was just a fun quarantine project to keep me busy, but 500,000 followers later, this project is now much more than that. My goal now is to spread this project as far as possible and hopefully help more people fall in love with Virtual Reality.
Currently, the project is in prototype 4 but I’m innovating constantly to improve the gloves.
Currently, the glove is compatible with PCVR headsets through SteamVR.
Haptic Force Feedback gloves for virtual reality. I can now legitimately FEEL what VR feels like and hold objects in my hands. It’s the most incredible thing I have ever felt in VR actually. It’s amazing. The crazy part is that you can actually build gloves as well! PLus as long as you have a PC of some sort you can use any tracking method whether that be HTC Vive wands, Vive trackers, Knuckles, Oculus Quest’s touch controllers, doesn’t matter. IT’S SICK. These gloves are made by Lucas VR Tech/ LucidVR and we actually go to his workshop to build a pair! Thank you Lucas!
