Recently updated on December 28th, 2019 at 12:53 pm
Recently, Miraisens, a Japan company, introduced “3D-Haptics Technology” where user can experience the presence of 3D objects as if they existed there physically even in the virtual world. For those who don’t know, haptic technology or also known as haptics is a way to recreate the feeling or sense of touch by applying the forces, motions or vibrations to the users.
In this case, “3D-Haptics Technology” enables the VR user to experience the presence feeling, touch feeling of roughness, and reaction feeling of grasping, pushing and pulling the 3D objects. Hence, this can greatly enhance and improve the VR touchable and sensory experience in virtual environment.
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How Miraisens’ 3D-Haptics Technology works?
So, how does “3D-Haptics Technology” works? Firstly, beside wearing the HMD like Oculus Rift, the user must also wear some sort of small and lightweight device placed on their fingertips. The images the eyes are seeing will be blended with different vibrations patterns which are created by that fingertips device. This type of behaviour fools the brain to think that the 3D object is solid and indicates that the objects can be touched. Thus, you’ll be able to feel the sense of pressure, touch and force as depicted in the picture below.
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| Type of Senses in 3D-Haptics Technology. (Image Courtesy of Miraisens) |
In one “3D-Haptics Technology” demo, when the user try to push a virtual button in the virtual environment, the user can feel the resistance made by the object. Cool, huh?
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| The Prototype of 3D-Haptics Technology |
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| The Virtual Buttons That User See During Demo |
Hence, there’s a lot of possible applications that can benefit from this technology such as gaming, playing the virtual piano and feel the keys while playing, molding for 3D printing, remote robot control to perform surgical procedures and improving driving simulator experience.
For your info, Miraisens is also known as AIST Technology Transfer Venture. It is actually the spin-off of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology which is based in the city of Tsukuba east of Tokyo. For more info, please visit:
1) The Official Miraisens Website.
2) “Japan firm showcases ‘touchable’ 3D technology” from AFP.
3) “New ‘3D Haptics Touchable 3D Technology’ Enables you to Touch 3D images, Boosts Virtual-Reality Gaming” from International Business Times.
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