Virtual reality and its social impact

Simulated tactile sensations

Imitation of tactile or tactile sensations has already found its way into virtual reality systems. These are the so-called feedback devices.

They are used to solve problems of virtual prototyping and ergonomic design, to create various simulators, medical simulators, remote control of robots, including micro- and nano-, systems for creating virtual sculptures.

Also, the ability to imitate tactile sensations has found its application in the gaming field.

Virtual Reality Gloves

The virtual reality gloves were created by experts from the University of California, San Diego, using soft robot technology. The author of the project is Michael Tolley, professor of mechanical engineering at the School of Engineering. Jacobs (Jacobs School of Engineering) of the above university.

The gloves provide tactile feedback when interacting with virtual reality objects, and have been successfully tested on a virtual piano simulator with a virtual keyboard. Unlike similar analogues, these gloves are made of a soft exoskeleton equipped with soft muscles designed for robots, which makes them much easier and more comfortable to use. The haptic system has three main components:

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  Leap Motion sensor (its function is to determine the position and movement of the user's hands);
  
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  Mckibben muscles - latex cavities with braided material - that respond to movements created by the movement of the user's fingers;
  
• 
  switchboard, the task of which is to control the muscles themselves, which create tactile sensations.
  

It is planned that virtual reality gloves will find application not only in video games and digital entertainment, but also in surgery.



Control

In order to most accurately recreate the user's contact with the environment, user interfaces are used that most realistically correspond to the simulated ones: a computer steering wheel with pedals, device control sticks, a target designator in form of a pistol, etc.

Both virtual reality gloves and video camera-based hand tracking are utilized to manipulate items without touching them. The latter is frequently used in a limited area and does not require the user to bring any additional equipment.

Virtual reality gloves can be used as part of a virtual reality suit that monitors and communicates tactile, temperature, and vibration sensations while also monitoring changes in the position of the entire body.

The tracking device for the user's motions may be a freely spinning ball in which the person is put, or it could be a virtual reality suit floating in the air or submerged in a liquid. Also being explored are technological methods for odor modeling.

Microsoft's Mise-Unseen eye control technology allows you to handle virtual items and control the virtual environment by moving your eyes.