From: Jerry Isdale Subject: TECH: Tactile Test case (was Greetings Everybody) Date: Mon, 9 Oct 1995 10:12:27 PDT >Date: Fri, 6 Oct 1995 12:05:18 +0100 >From: "R.C.Lim-Ong" >Subject: Greetings Everybody!! > ... stuff deleted... > > So let's say if you could have a tactile feedback system designed >for mankind as a general whole, certain minority or even just for you, >what would you like it to be? Why? Here's what has been put to me as the hardest (driving) tactile problem: Grab an Ice Cube. This may be trickier than it seems at first glance. You need to get the feeling of contact, cold, slippery, melting water running down your fingers, etc. The ice cube should slip away in a physically correct way (P.C. VR 8-). There are other probably other detail problems too. (like is it just finger tips or whole hand or whole body) The simple part is contact. Several people have built force feedback armatures. Cold has been demonstrated using tiny heat pumps (also does hot). I think the tricky part is the slipping (contact presure field gradients?) and the water melting. If you can find a way to do all these various sensations, you will probably have solved many of tactile feedbacks hardest issues. Jerry Isdale Illusion Engineering, Inc. 2660 Townsgate Rd., Suite 530 Westlake Village, CA 91360 Phone: (805) 371-4530 FAX: (805) 371-4533 Internet: isdale@isx.com