触觉手套让情侣们远程牵手 A pair of prototype* vibrating gloves has been developed to let couples touch one another over Wi-Fi. Couples can share a walk or watch movies together over long distances using the Flex-N-Feel gloves. The interconnected gloves, one worn by each partner, responds to finger movements. When one partner moves their fingers, it’s felt in the glove of the other person. The glove’s tactile* sensors allow the wearer to feel the movements, with each finger segment mapped to vibrating motors. “Over distance you can place this vibrating glove that your partner is controlling on body parts, to hold hands, or to touch a face,” said designer Carman Neustaedter. “As opposed to just seeing them, it’s like you are actually present with them.” “It’s all about feeling connected,” said Neustaedter, who is an associate professor at SFU’s School of Interactive Arts and Technology. The gloves’ sensors are attached to a micro-controller. The sensors provide a value for each bend and are transmitted to the feel glove using a WiFi module. The sensors are also placed strategically on the palm side of the fingers in order to better feel the touch. A soft-switch on both gloves also allows either partner to initiate the touch. “Users can make intimate gestures such as holding hands and giving a hug,” says Neustaedter. “The act of bending or flexing one’s finger is a gentle and subtle way to mimic touch.” While one set of gloves enables one-way remote touch between partners, Neustaedter says a second set could allow both to share touches at the same time. Other projects run by the team also focus on shared experiences, including a virtual reality* video conferencing system that lets one see through the eyes of a remote partner.(SD-Agencies) |