Scaleable SPIDAR: A haptic interface for human-scale virtual environments

Abstract

The paper aims to present a new human-scale haptic device for virtual environment named Scaleable-SPIDAR (Space Interface Device for Artificial Reality), which can provides different aspects of force feedback sensations, associated mainly with weight, contact and inertia, to both hands within a cave-like space. Tensioned string techniques are used to generate such haptic sensations, while keeping the space transparent and unbulky. The device is scaleable so as to enclose different cave-like working space. Scaleable- SPIDAR is coupled with a large screen where a computer generated virtual world is displayed. The used approach is shown to be simple, safe and sufficiently accurate for human-scale virtual environment.