The project is based on transcutaneous electrotactile stimulation from electrical pulses with high-resolution spatio-temporal distribution
The TACTILITY initiative includes rich and meaningful tactile information in new interaction systems for virtual environments. By replicating the characteristics of natural tactile feedback, the quality of the immersive virtual reality (VR) experience used both locally and remotely (tele-manipulation) will be considerably increased.
The project is based on transcutaneous electrotactile stimulation from electrical pulses with high-resolution spatio-temporal distribution. To achieve this, significant development of technologies is required for transcutaneous stimulation, textile-based multi-pad electrodes and tactile electronic skin, together with innovative research into the perception of tactile sensations triggered in virtual reality.
There are three possible areas of application for this development:
- For industrial design (automotive): to allow designers to "touch" virtual designs and improve them.
- For virtual games: to feel that you are touching an object or feedback when you fire a gun and/or to receive haptic indications of danger, etc.
- For specific therapy: for example for a person with a phobia of spiders: they can interact with a virtual spider and “feel” it moving around in their hand so that they lose their fear.
In short, TACTILITY will make it possible to have a high fidelity experience through low-cost, easy-to-use, portable mobile technology.
