Kooboh: Variable tangible properties in a handheld haptic-illusion box

Abstract

Kooboh is a handheld, tangible user interface (TUI) that can display various mechanical properties to the hand that grasps it. Made of rigid material, its cuboid shape and size never change. However, when manually squeezed or pressed, the user perceives in the hand that the object is compliant and deformable. This is achieved through a non-visual haptic illusion that can be controlled by software. With this technique, a TUI can display different mechanical feelings throughout the interaction cycle. This can greatly enhance the experience of handling and manipulating TUIs that, otherwise, only present one state: the feeling of the real physical object. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.