application of haptics technology to virtual reality

Technology that involves communication between a human and a computer based on high-performance tangible touch (not just fingertips hitting a keyboard or rolling a mouse), resistance, pressure, or force is called "kinesthetics." The most common current version of kinesthetic technology for communication from a human to a computer is a glove that translates hand configurations to computer commands. Other human-to-computer haptic science and equipment have exoskeleton appliances that convert angular joint motion into computer commands. The most common form of kinesthetic applied science for communication from a computer to a human involves a force feedback device that oscillates or provides motion resistance through the application of a magnetic field or actuator. Haptic technology is more and more common in virtual reality, robotics, medicine, and computer gaming. Also, I3D '99 has further VR information.

Human beings connect with computers in a variety of ways. Even just watching a computer display and pressing keys on a keypad is one such interaction, but human to computer interactions only qualify as virtual reality when they are enveloping, responsive and high-performance in nature. Virtual reality is an enveloping computer-fabricated construct inside which people make connections with artificially-generated elements in a way directed by minimum level of computer intelligence that the interaction seems realistic. Virtual Tours Wisconsin also covers similar topics.

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