IN BRIEF
The device features a system of rods that move though brake-based locking sliders, allowing the wearer to experience the feeling of having touched an object in virtual reality.
Someday wearable haptic interfaces like Wolverine could be used for far more than just VR entertainment.
THE WOLVERINE
Full sensory immersion is the ultimate goal of virtual experiences. From higher polygon counts of 3D models to better sound fidelity, VR developments allow users to perceive the virtual world almost as they do real life. However, one area of development that has proven particularly tricky for developers for many years is haptic feedback.
Enter Wolverine, a wearable haptic interface that allows its user to “feel” an object that they are holding in virtual reality.
The device was created by Inrak Choi and his team from the SHAPE Lab at Stanford University. As the fingers of the hand move, a system of rods move though brake-based locking sliders. When a finger touches a virtual object, a low-power motor either stretches or relaxes the sliders to jam or release the rods depending on where the virtual object is located and its dimensions. This simulates the feeling of having touched the object in virtual reality.
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Source: Futurism