Touch technology, over the years and the bombardment of "cushy" devices, has entered our lives for good. However, the so-called haptic technology applied in various fields - from entertainment to medicine - is expected to change form again, acquiring an even more futuristic appearance as it is now able to stimulate the sense of touch.
The reason is the technology developed by researchers from the University of Bristol, which is based on the projection of a hologram which, in addition to the possibility of interaction through touch, with the help of ultrasound, offers the user the ability to experience real tactile stimuli.
As the scientists explain in their publication in the scientific journal "ACM Transactions on Graphics", thanks to the new technique, three-dimensional floating shapes that can be touched... in the air can become a reality.
The future in our palm
According to the study's lead author, Dr Ben Long, from the university's Department of Computer Science, this could revolutionise the way 3D models are used. The new technology could, for example, allow surgeons to examine a CT scan by touch (via ultrasound), i.e. to feel, for example, a cancerous tumour.
The technique developed by the scientists is based on ultrasounds that are concentrated in the user's hands, thus giving them the illusion of tactile stimulation. The researchers created the three-dimensional ultrasound shapes by directing the "projection" device with a perforated surface towards a thin layer of oil. By illuminating it, the result appeared three-dimensional while the vibrations "tickled" the user's palm.
Experts also add that this technology could potentially be added to 3D screens, offering the viewer an unprecedented viewing experience that they can see and feel.
"In the future, people will be able to touch holograms of objects that they would not normally be able to feel – for example, the different qualities of materials, health problems or even the shapes of museum exhibits," explains Dr. Long.
Source: tovima.gr
