tactile

A new study reveals that our perception of time is intertwined with the sense of touch, supported by the dual functionality of the somatosensory cortex. Utilizing optogenetics, the research demonstrated that the somatosensory cortex’s neurons contribute to both tactile sensations and the perception of time, suggesting that time perception is rooted in a widespread network of brain areas. Credit: SciTechDaily.comSensory experiences and the perception of time are intricately linked within the somatosensory cortex of the…

Working with images isn’t in the job description for most access technologists like me, but I believe it should be. I dream of a day when checking out a street map, perusing tattoo designs, or making a seating chart are just as convenient and commonplace for blind folks as for our sighted counterparts.  When we talk about graphics and images, the assumption that they will be experienced visually is implicit in the language we use. We refer to the visual arts, visual aids, and data visualizations; we conflate the world…

One of the 3D modules in the book: a miniature staircase to be climbed with the index and middle fingers. A footstep sound is made each time the fingers touch the module. Credit: Dannyelle Valente / SMAS / Les Doigts qui rêvent Children with visual impairment do not perceive the world in the same way as sighted people. As a result, they need specific educational tools, including children's books, that enhance their skills and…

Using touchscreens or pushbuttons to control devices isn't always practical, and voice commands may not work in loud environments. A new system offers an alternative, in that it utilizes acoustic waves which travel across the surface of existing objects.Currently being developed at the University of Michigan, the experimental technology is known as SAWSense, with SAW standing for "surface acoustic waves."Hardware-wise, it incorporates devices known as voice pickup units (VPUs), which are already utilized in bone…

It’s no secret that ever since the first full touchscreen smartphones hit the market, keypads and keyboards have slowly disappeared. And while touchscreens have allowed for more screen real estate and greater app functionality, there is still a big fraction of people who prefer a tactile feel when interacting or typing on their smartphones. Now, to address this issue, researchers from the Future Interfaces Group (FIG) at Carnegie Mellon University have developed a new technology called “Flat Panel Haptics.”The Flat Panel…

Swiping and tapping on flat screens is something we’ve learned to deal with in smartphones, tablets and other touchscreen gizmos, but it doesn’t come close to the ease of typing on a hardware keyboard or playing a game with a physical controller. To that end, researchers Craig Shultz and Chris Harrison with the Future Interfaces Group (FIG) at Carnegie Mellon University have created a display that can protrude screen areas in different configurations. It’s a concept we’ve seen before, but this version is thinner, lighter…

There are two words that will make gamers of a certain age go weak at the knees: Power Glove. We’re not saying Driver-X was inspired by the legendary Nintendo accessory when conceiving its “Contact Glove” VR controller, but the comparisons are going to be inevitable. Driver-X’s haptic VR gloves do double duty as both a sensory feedback tool for “grabbing” objects in a virtual world and a VR controller. The company claims it’s the first VR glove that uses micro coils to deliver a more authentic tactile experience. The…

As you probably know, Yamaha makes motorbikes and scooters, bikes and ebikes, audio gear and musical instruments, and more besides. The Corporation also has an in-house think tank where design ideas from across the company can be shared, and the latest concept out of the Yamaha Design Lab is aimed at making smartphone-based music listening a little more interesting.The basic idea behind the Stepping Out of the Slate proposal is to bring back the satisfying interactions with actual audio hardware that's been lost to the…