Don't Take Touch for Granted: An Interview with Susan Lederman

1998 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
René Verry
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Motor Control ◽  
Virtual Environments ◽  
Virtual Environment ◽  
Haptic Perception ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Haptic Interfaces ◽  
Annual Symposium ◽  
International Council ◽  
Canadian Institute

Susan Lederman (SL) is an invited member of the International Council of Research Fellows for the Braille Research Center and a Fellow of he Canadian Psychology Association. She was also an Associate of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research in the Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Programme for 8 years. A Professor in the Departments of Psychology and Computing & Information Science at Queen's University at Kingston (Ontario, Canada), she has written and coauthored numerous articles on tactile psychophysics, haptic perception and cognition, motor control, and haptic applications in robotics, teleoperation, and virtual environments. She is currently the coorganizer of the Annual Symposium a Haptic Interfaces for Teleoperation and Virtual Environment Systems. René Verry (RV) is a psychology professor at Millikin University (Decatur, IL), where she teaches a variety of courses in the experimental core, including Sensation and Perception. She chose the often-subordinated somatic senses as the focus of her interview, and recruited Susan Lederman as our research specialist.

Conference Reports

Robotica ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 477-478
Author(s):  
Susan J. Lederman ◽  
Robert D. Howe
Keyword(s):  
Minimally Invasive Surgery ◽  
Minimally Invasive ◽  
Virtual Environments ◽  
Invasive Surgery ◽  
Architectural Design ◽  
Space Exploration ◽  
Haptic Interfaces ◽  
Annual Symposium ◽  
Human Machine Interaction ◽  
Machine Interaction

SIXTH ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM ON HAPTIC INTERFACESThe Sixth Annual Symposium for Haptic Interfaces for Virtual Environment and Teleoperator Systems was held on Nov. 17–18, 1997 in Dallas, Texas. Haptic interfaces are devices that allow human–machine interaction through force and touch. Areas of application include, but are by no means limited, to telemanipulation (for work in hazardous or challenging environments such as space exploration, undersea operations, microsurgery and minimally-invasive surgery, and hazardous waste clean-up) and virtual environments (for realistic interactions with computer simulations in critical procedure training, architectural design, product prototyping, and data visualization).

Biofeedback and Virtual Environments

2011 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 377-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik Champion ◽  
Andrew Dekker
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Virtual Environments ◽  
Virtual Environment ◽  
Digital Environment ◽  
Cognitive Loading ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Dynamic Modification

This paper explains potential benefits of indirect biofeedback used within interactive virtual environments, and reflects on an earlier study that allowed for the dynamic modification of a virtual environment's graphic shaders, music and artificial intelligence, based on the biofeedback of the player. The aim was to determine which augmented effects aided or discouraged engagement in the game. Conversely, biofeedback can help calm down rather than stress participants, and attune them to different ways of interacting within a virtual environment. Other advantages of indirect biofeedback might include increased personalization, thematic object creation, atmospheric augmentation, filtering of information, and tracking of participants' understanding and engagement. Such features may help designers create more intuitive virtual environments with more thematically appropriate interaction while reducing cognitive loading on the participants. Another benefit would be more engaged clients with a better understanding of the richness and complexity of a digital environment.

An Aesthetics of Digital Virtual Environments

2015 ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
Adam Nash
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Virtual Environments ◽  
Virtual Environment ◽  
Data Display ◽  
Ontological Status ◽  
Primary Qualities ◽  
A Site ◽  
Gilbert Simondon ◽  
Theoretical Considerations ◽  
Digital Sound

This chapter examines digital virtual environments as a site for art and proposes a formal aesthetics for art in digital virtual environments. The study arises from the author's decades-long practice producing art in virtual environments and the related theoretical considerations that have arisen from that practice. The technical, conceptual and ontological status of virtual environments is examined in order to establish a base of intrinsic qualities that identify virtual environments as a medium for art. The philosophy of Gilbert Simondon is used to achieve this. The elements and principles the artist must employ to work with this medium are identified as data, display and modulation. The specificities of virtual environments as a medium for art are examined in order to establish a formal aesthetics. In particular, digital colour, visual opacity, digital sound, code, artificial intelligence, emergence and agency are identified as the primary qualities that the artist manipulates to bring forth art in a virtual environment.

Simulating Haptic Feedback Using Vision: A Survey of Research and Applications of Pseudo-Haptic Feedback

2009 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anatole Lécuyer
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Virtual Environments ◽  
Virtual Environment ◽  
Visual Feedback ◽  
Vocational Training ◽  
Haptic Perception ◽  
Haptic Feedback ◽  
Virtual Object ◽  
Milling Machine ◽  
Medical Simulator

This paper presents a survey of the main results obtained in the field of “pseudo-haptic feedback”: a technique meant to simulate haptic sensations in virtual environments using visual feedback and properties of human visuo-haptic perception. Pseudo-haptic feedback uses vision to distort haptic perception and verges on haptic illusions. Pseudo-haptic feedback has been used to simulate various haptic properties such as the stiffness of a virtual spring, the texture of an image, or the mass of a virtual object. This paper describes the several experiments in which these haptic properties were simulated. It assesses the definition and the properties of pseudo-haptic feedback. It also describes several virtual reality applications in which pseudo-haptic feedback has been successfully implemented, such as a virtual environment for vocational training of milling machine operations, or a medical simulator for training in regional anesthesia procedures.

An Aesthetics of Digital Virtual Environments

2016 ◽  
pp. 128-149
Author(s):  
Adam Nash
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Virtual Environments ◽  
Virtual Environment ◽  
Data Display ◽  
Ontological Status ◽  
Primary Qualities ◽  
A Site ◽  
Gilbert Simondon ◽  
Theoretical Considerations ◽  
Digital Sound

This chapter examines digital virtual environments as a site for art and proposes a formal aesthetics for art in digital virtual environments. The study arises from the author's decades-long practice producing art in virtual environments and the related theoretical considerations that have arisen from that practice. The technical, conceptual and ontological status of virtual environments is examined in order to establish a base of intrinsic qualities that identify virtual environments as a medium for art. The philosophy of Gilbert Simondon is used to achieve this. The elements and principles the artist must employ to work with this medium are identified as data, display and modulation. The specificities of virtual environments as a medium for art are examined in order to establish a formal aesthetics. In particular, digital colour, visual opacity, digital sound, code, artificial intelligence, emergence and agency are identified as the primary qualities that the artist manipulates to bring forth art in a virtual environment.

scholarly journals Perceptual uncertainty and action consequences independently affect hand movements in a virtual environment

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Giesel ◽  
Anna Nowakowska ◽  
Julie M. Harris ◽  
Constanze Hesse
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Environments ◽  
Virtual Environment ◽  
Motor Skills ◽  
Hand Movements ◽  
Perceptual Information ◽  
Avoidance Task ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
Motor Behaviour ◽  
Virtual And Augmented Reality

AbstractWhen we use virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) environments to investigate behaviour or train motor skills, we expect that the insights or skills acquired in VR/AR transfer to real-world settings. Motor behaviour is strongly influenced by perceptual uncertainty and the expected consequences of actions. VR/AR differ in both of these aspects from natural environments. Perceptual information in VR/AR is less reliable than in natural environments, and the knowledge of acting in a virtual environment might modulate our expectations of action consequences. Using mirror reflections to create a virtual environment free of perceptual artefacts, we show that hand movements in an obstacle avoidance task systematically differed between real and virtual obstacles and that these behavioural differences occurred independent of the quality of the available perceptual information. This suggests that even when perceptual correspondence between natural and virtual environments is achieved, action correspondence does not necessarily follow due to the disparity in the expected consequences of actions in the two environments.

Dropouts and Aftereffects: Examining General Accessibility to Virtual Environment Technology

2002 ◽  
Vol 46 (26) ◽  
pp. 2114-2118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kay M. Stanney ◽  
Kelly S. Kingdon ◽  
Robert S. Kennedy
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Environments ◽  
Virtual Environment ◽  
Broad Spectrum ◽  
General Public ◽  
Dropout Rates ◽  
Environment Exposure ◽  
Oculomotor Disturbances ◽  
A Minor

Are current virtual environments (VEs) usable by the broad spectrum of people who may wish to utilize this technology? The current study, which examined over 1000 participants, indicates the answer to this question is a definitive ‘no’. Virtual environment exposure was found to cause people to vomit (1.1%), experience nausea (71%), disorientation (70%), and oculomotor disturbances (79%). Overall, 88% of participants reported some level of adverse symptomatology, ranging from a minor headache to vomiting and intense vertigo. These disturbances led 12% of those exposed to prematurely cease their interaction. Dropout rates as high as nearly 50% were found in exposures of 1 hr in length. In addition, long-term aftereffects were found, including headaches, drowsiness, nausea, and fatigue. These problems could substantially reduce the accessibility of VE technology by the general public and thus must be resolved if this technology is to be widely adopted.

The VEOS Project

1994 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Bricken ◽  
Geoffrey Coco
Keyword(s):  
Rapid Prototyping ◽  
Virtual Environments ◽  
Virtual Environment ◽  
Object Oriented ◽  
Organization Structure ◽  
Object Oriented Programming ◽  
Iterative Refinement ◽  
Software Infrastructure ◽  
Human Interface ◽  
Heterogeneous Distributed Computing

The Virtual Environment Operating Shell (veos) was developed at University of Washington's Human Interface Technology Laboratory as software infrastructure for the lab's research in virtual environments. veos was designed from scratch to provide a comprehensive and unified management facility to support generation of, interaction with, and maintenance of virtual environments. VEOS emphasizes rapid prototyping, heterogeneous distributed computing, and portability. We discuss the design, philosophy and implementation of veos in depth. Within the Kernel, the shared database transformations are pattern-directed, communications are asynchronous, and the programmer's interface is LISP. An entity-based metaphor extends object-oriented programming to systems-oriented programming. Entities provide first-class environments and biological programming constructs such as perceive, react, and persist. The organization, structure, and programming of entities are discussed in detail. The article concludes with a description of the applications that have contributed to the iterative refinement of the VEOS software.

DECAFF: Experimental Study on Human Haptic Perception

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott L. Springer ◽  
Nicola J. Ferrier
Keyword(s):  
Interface Design ◽  
Haptic Perception ◽  
Human Perception ◽  
Initial Contact ◽  
Haptic Interfaces ◽  
Feed Forward ◽  
Feed Forward Control ◽  
Contact Distance ◽  
Traditional Approaches ◽  
And Control

Abstract DECAFF is a method for design and control of haptic interfaces that utilizes a DE-Coupled Actuator and Feed-Forward control. In this paper results of an experimental investigation are presented that quantify improved human haptic perception while using the DECAFF system, compared to the traditional haptic interface design and control systems. Perception improvements include the increased stability for rigid surfaces and increased ability of subjects to accurately identify initial contact with virtual surface boundaries. Traditional haptic interfaces employ an actuator directly coupled to the human operator that provides a force proportional to wall penetration distance and velocity. The DECAFF paradigm for design and control of haptic displays utilizes a de-coupled actuator and pre-contact distance sensing as a feed forward control term to improve stability and response performance. A human perception experiment has been performed that compares the touch sensation of the subjects for both the DECAFF system and traditional approaches to haptic display. In the human factors study the quality of rigid body display is evaluated in addition to the sensitivity of touch experienced by the subjects while making initial contact with virtual surfaces.

scholarly journals Crowd behaviour during high-stress evacuations in an immersive virtual environment

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (122) ◽  
pp. 20160414 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehdi Moussaïd ◽  
Mubbasir Kapadia ◽  
Tyler Thrash ◽  
Robert W. Sumner ◽  
Markus Gross ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Environments ◽  
Virtual Environment ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
High Stress ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Social Conventions ◽  
Emergency Situations ◽  
Crowd Behaviour ◽  
The Individual

Understanding the collective dynamics of crowd movements during stressful emergency situations is central to reducing the risk of deadly crowd disasters. Yet, their systematic experimental study remains a challenging open problem due to ethical and methodological constraints. In this paper, we demonstrate the viability of shared three-dimensional virtual environments as an experimental platform for conducting crowd experiments with real people. In particular, we show that crowds of real human subjects moving and interacting in an immersive three-dimensional virtual environment exhibit typical patterns of real crowds as observed in real-life crowded situations. These include the manifestation of social conventions and the emergence of self-organized patterns during egress scenarios. High-stress evacuation experiments conducted in this virtual environment reveal movements characterized by mass herding and dangerous overcrowding as they occur in crowd disasters. We describe the behavioural mechanisms at play under such extreme conditions and identify critical zones where overcrowding may occur. Furthermore, we show that herding spontaneously emerges from a density effect without the need to assume an increase of the individual tendency to imitate peers. Our experiments reveal the promise of immersive virtual environments as an ethical, cost-efficient, yet accurate platform for exploring crowd behaviour in high-risk situations with real human subjects.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document