Haptic Technology

The word “haptics,” according to Dictionary.com[1], is derived from the Greek háp(tein), meaning to grasp, sense, or perceive. It refers to the science of touch, and, as explained by Stephen Brewster[2], haptic technologies, as employed by “force-feedback” devices, allow for the incorporation of the sense of touch in computer-based applications, letting users “physically” interact with virtual objects. According to J. Kenneth Salisbury Jr.[3], professor of computer science at Stanford University, if the forces that are exerted on a device used to interact with virtual objects can be coordinated to recreate the characteristics of a real object, a user can be made to feel as if s/he is touching it. The user would be able to hold and move a three-dimensional virtual object. The technology can virtually imitate the texture, size, and weight of an object by applying certain pressures to, for instance, a user’s hand.

Haptic technology could add – and is adding – a whole new element to virtual reality. What was once possible in the realms of sight and sound alone can now be enhanced by touch, and the possibilities in the world of entertainment are endless. In fact, Nintendo, for example, has already begun to explore virtual movement with the Wii, but the use of haptic technology would add to the experience for users by allowing them to actually feel the game. Haptics also has important applications in medicine; surgeons could perform their first procedures in a virtual environment without having to practice on a cadaver – or on a living person.

Certain applications of haptic technology could alter the ways in which businesses function. In recent years, long-distance communications within companies and between companies have been greatly facilitated by improvements made to videoconferencing technologies. People all over the world can now “meet” online, eliminating the need for much of the costly travelling that was once necessary in order to maintain business relationships overseas. Haptic technology could allow business executives to shake hands with their partners in other countries, and, though seemingly inconsequential, this represents progress in communication technology as monumental as the webcam itself.

Emerging haptic technologies are presenting various marketing opportunities for companies. As Richard Gray[4] notes, the technology would allow an online shopper to handle a product before purchasing it, making the e-shopping experience generally more attractive. For this reason, implementing haptic technology on a company website could prove beneficial. In this case, the immediate advantage is the consumer’s, but the company would experience an increase in sales, and therefore in profits. Haptic technology used with virtual environments could also be used to train workers, thereby cutting costs and increasing employee efficiency. However, as advantageous as it may seem, as with any technology, haptics has its drawbacks. For instance, with respect to the online shopping example, all shoppers would have to have access to the force-feedback devices required to enjoy the technology. These devices and equipment would be expensive, at least initially, for both the consumer and the company. Employees and consumers would then have to learn how to use it – and even then, the technology could not yet be expected to perform as it should. Though the objective of the technology would be to replicate real life (that is, real objects), it seems unlikely that a virtual imitation could ever perfectly duplicate a real-life touch.

[1] Haptics. Retrieved September 20, 2007, from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/haptics

[2] Brewster, S. (2001). The Impact of Haptic 'Touching' Technology on Cultural Applications. Retrieved September 20, 2007, from http://www.dcs.gla.ac.uk/~stephen/papers/EVA2001.pdf

[3] Ruvinsky, J. (2003, April 2). Haptic technology simulates the sense of touch – via computer. Stanford Report [online]. Retrieved September 20, 2007, from http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2003/april2/haptics-42.html

[4] Gray, R. (2007, September 18). Getting in touch online: Hand is just a shake away. The Gazette [online], p. A20. Retrieved September 20, 2007, from ProQuest database.