From: latta@sting.Berkeley.EDU (Craig R. Latta)
Subject: VR Sensual Feedback
Date: Wed, 16 Jan 91 01:59:25 GMT
Message-ID: <1991Jan16.015925.24590@agate.berkeley.edu>
Organization: The Experimental Computing Facility (XCF), UC Berkeley



        It seems to me that the only way of achieving a true,
three-dimensional system of tactile feeback is by using 
superconducting repulsion. The user would wear a suit covered/embedded
with small, tracked filaments, which are repulsed by superconducting
magnetic elements on all six sides of a room. The user would be
able to be forced to any position in the room, given a strong enough
repulsion. 
        
        Virtual objects in three-dimensions would be created by creating
the proper repulsions on the contacting parts of the user, enough to 
overpower the user out of the field of the object. Further, the user would
be able to walk, run, jump, or whatever "in place," as the repulsion
counteracts all movements, as a sort of three-dimensional treadmill.

        Each of these filaments would also need to be able to be 
temperature-controlled somehow, to convey heat and cold. The filaments
would also need to be awfully fine to convey texture.

        
        Are these ideas completely crazy? Would the electromagnetic fields
created be dangerous to the user, assuming this is even possible?


-C

p.s. As long as we cannot eat in cyberspace, I think the whole idea is a 
        bit overrated.


-- 
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Craig R. Latta                                  "Instant monotony!
latta@xcf.Berkeley.EDU                                  Just ad nauseum!"
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