Flexible touch sensor for evaluating geometric properties of virtual shapes through sound

Abstract

This paper describes the design and implementation of a system for rendering virtual shape through vision, haptic and sound. The system consists of a haptic strip that physically renders virtual curves. A flexible capacitive touch sensor (FCTS) is integrated with the haptic strip, and allows the system to track the position of the user's fingers on the strip. According to the position, the system renders curve properties such as curve shape, inflexion points and curvature through sound metaphors. The goal of this sonification approach is to strengthen the user's understanding of the shape of a virtual prototype, and to inform the user about geometrical attributes that could otherwise remain unseen. Such unseen attributes may either be a result of limitations in the visual and haptic display hardware or a result of limitations in human perception.

Keywords:

• haptic rendering
• conceptual design
• immersive virtual reality
• product design
• human-computer interaction

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all project partners for their contributions to the research.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Funding

This work was supported by the European Commission under the Sound and Tangible Interfaces for Novel Product Design (SATIN) Project (www.satin-project.eu) [grant number FP6-IST-5-054525].