Will Haptics Technology Be Used in Mobile Devices?: A Historical Review of Haptics Technology and Its Potential Applications in Multi-modal Interfaces

Abstract

In recent years, the haptics research area has become an interdisciplinary field covering perception, psychophysics, neuroscience, mechanism design, control, virtual reality, and human computer interaction. If we try to identify the origins of haptics research, it can be said to have emerged from the teleoperator systems of the late 1940s. In these initial explorations, increasing the transparency level of the mechanical master/slave manipulator system was the main issue as such imrpovements promised higher levels of task efficiency. For example, in order to handle nuclear materials effectively inside a radiation shielded room, minimizing friction and the effects of inertia in a mechanical master/slave system was the critical factor. Furthermore, when teleoperator systems were designed for hazardous environments and long distance space applications, establishing stability in the face of lengthy (and often uncertain) time delays was the key issue. Ergonomic design of the remote control console and the master haptic device also exerted a strong influence on how effectively remote information could be displayed to enhance telepresence.